This presentation examines the significance of viewing music in Japanese community music practice as Asobi (play), drawing on the author's own practical examples.　When considering community music in Japan, viewing sound-based activities as “play” holds significance in three key respects. First, in terms of liberation from the institutions and norms of modern artistic culture, play possesses a certain value distinct from ‘art’ or “culture.” As Higgins points out, community music is thought to have developed alongside postmodern thought(Higgins, 2012, p. 29-32), and the author's own community music practice confirmed this. However, the terms “art,” “culture,” and “music” inherently contain modern values. In this regard, I believe there is significance in framing more life-rooted ways of enjoying sound as play.　Second, considering Japan's unique circumstances, it may be meaningful to re-examine the “music” culture established after the rapid modernization of the Meiji era(1868-1912), including the ways of enjoying sound that predate that period. The use of the term “Asobi” in Japan has a history dating back to the 700s, partially carrying the meaning of music as we understand it today. While it is known that the introduction of Western music in Japan served as a tool to shape the bodies and minds of the “citizens” constituting the modern nation-state, reexamining the meaning of Asobi could allow us to reaffirm the continuous, life-rooted enjoyment of sound that has persisted since the past.　Third, referring to the so-called “play” theory suggests that the conditions for play to occur are highly uncertain(Nishimura, 1989). In the sense that a strong center among the participants is not necessarily required, this perspective offers a new approach to considering socially inclusive communities. Édouard Glissant states that a In this regard, I suggest that reflecting on music in Japan could also provide insights relevant to the challenges faced by many regions that achieved modernization through the influence of other countries.