Edo-period atmosphere soaked in shamisen and traditional Japanese instrumentation, but with a modern compositional edge underneath. Ukiyo no Shishi builds its world through noon and night variants of location themes, and the tonal shifts between them are striking.
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"Kyoto -Night-" takes the daytime melody and wraps it in something more contemplative and shadowy. "Red-light District" has this slinky, dangerous energy that contrasts hard with "Stately Palace." "Ee-ja-nai-ka Festa" is pure chaotic festival energy, wild and infectious.
Then "Execution Grove" just kills the mood completely, on purpose. The Bakumatsu setting gives the whole score this tension between beauty and violence. If you play historical Japanese games for the atmosphere as much as the gameplay, this soundtrack nails the era.