Die Bartók-Rezeption in Japan bis 1945

Researchers agree that the cultural representation of Germany received preferential treatment in Japan during the time of the German-Japanese alliance (1936-1945). Nevertheless, there is an urgent need to further investigate how Japanese society dealt with music from other European countries, especially since the folklorism of Béla Bartók is frequently mentioned alongside Claude Debussy’s style in the debate that fueled the establishment of a Japanese “ national music.” By analysing articles in music journals, this paper attemps to identify the (cultural-)political events within the history of ideas that appear to be relevant to the reception of Bartók in Japan.