Abstract
This paper aims to explore the hypothesis that the “Japanese language has an
influence on performances of Western art music by Japanese people” and show the
challenges that arise from this standpoint. First, we find that Westerners perceive such
performances as something strange, and that the influence of the Japanese language has
been identified as a cause of Japanese-style performances of Western art music (JPWAM).
Second, the similarities between Japanese, rhythm, intonation, and JPWAM and the
differences between Western languages and their performances are highlighted, and the
problem of “mother tongue interference” as a possible cause is examined. Finally, the
perspective of JPWAM as being something akin to Creole is shown, and the question of
what this means, is addressed.
