Which musical traditions of the Ainu differ from those of other Japanese musical cultures?

The musical traditions of the Ainu people are distinct from other Japanese musical cultures, largely due to their northern Asian cultural roots. Key differences include:12

• Vocal Style: Ainu music is characterized by a guttural vocal style that contrasts with the vocal traditions found elsewhere in Japan.1
• Musical Texture: The frequent use of polyphonic textures in Ainu music points toward northern cultural influences rather than the southern or western influences that shaped much of the rest of Japanese music.1
• Instrumentation: Ainu culture utilizes a jew’s harp and the tonkori, a two- to five-stringed zither. The tonkori is played in a distinct manner, held like a banjo and played open-stringed with both hands, which differs significantly in shape and playing position from the zithers found in other Japanese traditions, such as the wagon (or Yamato-goto).1

While some Ainu shamanic practices share similarities with early Shinto and certain folk traditions, their unique vocal and instrumental techniques remain a distinct element within the broader landscape of Japanese music.1