Japanese Music

Japanese Instruments The instruments used in traditional Japanese music give it a very unique sound. Instrumental timbres are carefully chosen so that each layer can be clearly heard. The shamisen, the shakuhachi and the koto are three instruments used in Japanese Music.

The Shamisen This is a three stringed lute with a square sound-box It is plucked by a large wooden or ivory plectrum

The Koto This is a long plucked instrument It has thirteen strings and sounds similar to a harp It is said to have taken it’s shape from a crouching dragon

The Shakuhachi The Shakuhachi is a curved open ended flute It has four holes on the front and one on the back