I chose “Sakura Sakura,” a traditional Japanese song about cherry blossoms and the beauty of spring. The song is one of the most well known examples of Japanese music and is often associated with Japanese culture. Its melody uses a traditional Japanese pentatonic scale, which gives it a sound that is different from much Western music. The song was originally connected to koto music, a traditional Japanese string instrument. I found this recording on YouTube, and I chose it because I liked the calm and simple sound of the melody. I also thought the song was a good example of traditional Japanese music.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hvo4Db3NT8