Koto

Koto came from China, about 12 hundred years ago. Originally, it was a Western musical instrument. It is an almost two meters long plucked instrument, lies on the ground, and it reminds of the zither. In the Heian-age the originally 5 strings instrument became a 13 strings one, later on it was changed and developed in several ways.

 
Shakuhachi

Shakuhachi is the characteristic Japanese bamboo flute. It came from India in the 6th century. Originally it had 5 holes in India, in China one more was added. In Japan, a seventh hole was added, and it also became longer. During the next centuries, it became one of the leading instruments in Japan.
 
 
 

 Shamisen
Shamisen is a three strings plucked instrument, similar to an elongated banjo. Probably, it came from China as well, in the middle of the 16th century. It was the most pervasive and most characteristic musical instrument of the Edo-era. It is still used in bunraku and kabuki theaters. To play the shamisen at a very high level was one of the basic requirements in the education of a geisha.
 
 
 
 Wadaiko – Japanese drum
Wadaiko is the oldest Japanese musical instrument. Originally it was a grooved log, rhythmically beaten by the musician. Later, an animal skin was stretched on the log, and this arrangement led to its current form. Making the Japanese drum was improved through thousands of years, and nowadays taiko drums are the best-known variants of it. Taiko also means a kind of group drumming. It is a relatively young art in Japan, still it is very popular.