I dont know much about indian or japanese music, but the last few years I have been getting into arabic music. I would recommend for starters the compilations DESERT BLUES and SUFI SOUL on Netwerk, both available for 20 euros from www.zweitausendeins.de They are both double CDs with nice booklets, and provide a pretty general picture of arabic music. Both are trully excelent. More that I remember right now is Kani Karaca (sufi master from turkey) Hassan Hakmoun (morrocan star) and there my goldfish-memory fails. enjoy manolis