Japanese musics past 1990 has lessened the the focus on traditional orchestrations of imi uta, and other older types of Japanese music. The country and its emerging musicians from younger generations have developed more technologically produced work, like the digitally composed genre dubbed "J-Pop", which combines catchy, computerized rhythms with lyrics applicable to other aspects of entertainment in Japan, like the production of anime.

Contrasting the other article on modern Japanese music, there are some musical traditionalists who honor the cultural styles that were prevalent decades before. However, instead of using the same instruments passed down several generations, there seems to be an emergence of Western, orchestral and symphonic instruments being thrown into the ensemble, offering a richer sound that has been prized at annual music festivals. This is an expression of tradition being honored, but also "upgraded" with the assimilation of other voices in the music.