Yōgaku
/joːɡakɯ̥/noun
A Japanese term for Western music, especially music from Europe and North America.
Did you know?Yōgaku became especially important during Japan’s Meiji era, when Western musical notation, instruments, and military bands were rapidly introduced and contrasted with traditional hōgaku.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
洋 / *laŋ/
“Ocean or open sea; later, foreign or Western”
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
樂 / *ŋˤawɡ/
“Music, musical performance, or pleasure”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
洋樂
“A compound meaning foreign or Western music”
8th–12th Century
Japanese
洋・楽 (yō・gaku)
“Sino-Japanese readings of the characters meaning Western and music”
Meiji Era, 1868–1912
Japanese
洋楽 (yōgaku)
“Western-style music, used increasingly as Japan adopted European musical systems”
Modern Japanese and English
Japanese/English
Yōgaku
“Western music, often used in English discussions of Japanese music and music history”