Though the piano is originally a European instrument, many Japanese people are more familiar with the piano than they are with Japanese instruments. Piano culture expanded in Japan during the period of high economic growth, namely from 1954 to 1973, and therefore today many in Japan play the piano. However, piano culture developed even more substantially following the period of high economic growth, especially from the 1980s onward. For example, during this period many of those learning to play the piano participated in piano competitions. 
This study focuses on piano culture in Japan from the 1980s. I analyzed the 1980s piano culture using interviews. The number of learners aspiring to study piano began to gradually decrease at this time. However, the number of "high-ranking amateurs" increased. High-ranking amateurs are skilled piano players who have never studied piano at a music college. Playing piano is merely a hobby to them. They choose to clear a fiercely competitive entrance examination, and go on to study something other than music. 
Bourdieu classifies interests into two groups: "interests of necessity" and "interests of luxury." According to Bourdieu, high-ranking amateurs have interests of luxury, because to them playing the piano is far from a necessity. They do not need to earn a living as music teachers. However, their piano playing does not constitute an interest of luxury according to Bourdieu. Rather, high-ranking amateurs have learned to play piano at the insistence of their parents; —they had to study piano earnestly since they were children. Piano culture is also part of the education of high-ranking amateurs.

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