Tossup

A composer from this country combined a Western orchestra with its traditional instruments in his November Steps. Syllables such as “don” and “ka” are part of a “mouth-writing” system used to notate drum music from this country. (10[1])A folk song from this country asks (10[1])“Is it mist, or clouds?” while describing its title flowers, and is often given to beginner players of a 13-stringed zither from this country, (-5[1])the koto. (10[2])Traditional instruments from this (10[1])country such as the biwa and the shakuhachi are frequently played in its gagaku ensembles. (10[1])For 10 points, name this home country of Tōru (-5[1])Takemitsu (10[1])and Koji Kondo, the latter of whom writes (10[1])video game music for Nintendo. ■END■ (10[1])

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