A composer from this country was initially averse to its musical tradition, but grew to be notably influenced by it following a commission for the gagaku ensemble of the Imperial Household. For 10 points each:
[10e] Name this home country of Tōru Takemitsu, where hayashi ensembles traditionally play music for Noh theatre.
ANSWER: Japan [or Nippon-koku or Nihon-koku]
[10m] This Japanese zither typically has 13 strings, though bass varieties with 17 strings are also common. Haru no Umi is a piece for this instrument and shakuhachi by Michio Miyagi.
ANSWER: koto
[10h] Included in the 1888 Collection of Japanese Koto Music, this popular Japanese folk song about the coming of spring asks whether the title objects are “mist” or “clouds”.
ANSWER: “Sakura Sakura” [or “Sakura”; accept “Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms”]