Luther Whiting Mason Books

Luther Whiting Mason was an American music educator instrumental in introducing Western classical music into Japan's educational curriculum. While at Tokyo Imperial University, he collaborated on developing music instruction programs for elementary and middle schools and creating the nation's first graded series of music textbooks. His innovative teaching methods, utilizing charts and "ladders" to explain musical concepts, laid the groundwork for future music education in Japan. Mason also facilitated the import of Western instruments and sought to elevate Japanese musical taste by encouraging the study of harmony and popular Western tunes.