The shamisen and the koto kick the face off every other instrument on the planet, as does that weird "bok" noise that's made by those things that fill with water and then fall back and smack a stone, making that particular noise.

I also love most of Hironobu Kageyama's work on TV themes and whatnot. Choujin Sentai Jetman FTW! I never know what the hell he's singing but his voice sounds so damn cheerful that it does enough for me.