ABSTRACT
Disdaining political and economic boundaries, the joys of music form an instantly communicated bond between men everywhere, and this international festival is dedicated to that spirit. The contemporary popular music audience in Japan is exposed to a large variety of music, both domestic and imported; tastes are well defined. Anger and dissatisfaction with the present conditions of life are not as a rule expressed openly in Japanese society, but if this is done through channels that disguise it by distracting attention from the individual, protest becomes acceptable. Consistency is not limited only to the star's image but extends to all aspects of the way music should be presented and produced. While the musical elements such as harmony or orchestration are usually 'international' and can be evaluated musically in the same way as with Singers or groups in other countries who have similar styles, the preferences of the Japanese public reveal much about what is Japanese in this music.
