The most famous flute is the shakuhachi bamboo flute. The biwa is held almost vertical and played with a large bachi (plectrum). The number of frets varies from 4 to 6 and strings vary in number from 3 to 5 but there are usually 4. There are many styles, the most popular being Satsuma biwa which was developed in the 16th century. The main character in one of Japan's most famous legends, The Story of Earless Hoichi was one of these biwa hoshi (lute priests). The biwa is a short-necked lute, used from the 7th century in gagaku to accompany early puppet plays and also by blind monk entertainers, the Japanese equivalent of travelling minstrels. But young players like the Yoshida Brothers or Agatsuma Hiromitsu bring a whole new, some would say rock and roll, approach that gets young fans in a frenzy of excitement while putting their elders in a fit of anger. Traditional shamisen playing requires the player to be quite stiff and expressionless. The pegs are traditionally made of ivory while the strings are twisted silk. Shamisen are made from one of a variety of woods such as red sandalwood and the head covered with cat or dog skin. The kabuki variety developed into its own form of dance music, the nagauta or long song. It first became popular in the pleasure districts during the Edo Period (1600-1868) and also began to be used for the musical accompaniment in kabuki and bunraku performances. The length of the shamisen varies from 1.1 to 1.4 meters. It is believed to be a variant of the Okinawan sanshin. The Yoshida Brothers have brought a rock sensibility to the shamisen One of the most famous koto players and composers was the blind musician Miyagi Michio (1894-1956), who was heavily influenced by western music. Koto are used in an ensemble in gagaku or as a solo instrument. It is plucked using picks on the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand, while the left hand can be used to modify pitch and tone. The koto is a 13-string zither, about 2 meters long and made of Paulownia wood. Like all other traditional arts in Japan, there are several schools of tsuzumi. The kotsuzumi is held on the right shoulder and the player alters the tone by squeezing the laces. Two varieties, the smaller kotsuzumi and the larger otsuzumi are used in both noh and kabuki performances. The hourglass-shaped tsuzumi was introduced from the Asian continent around the 7th century and the name is derived from Sanskrit. Kodo also tour extensively abroad every year. Many people come to Japan from around the world to enjoy the festival and it is certainly a highlight of the Japanese cultural calendar. Each year, Kodo host Earth Celebration, a festival of taiko drumming, international music and performance art in their home base on Sado Island. Perhaps because they see this all the time, most Japanese people don't get particularly excited by taiko performance groups like Kodo, while foreign audiences are enthralled by them. The physical energy and sheer excitement of an Odaiko performance is an integral part of many Japanese matsuri (festivals). The most dramatic is the Odaiko (big drum). Most have two membranes which are nailed or laced and are struck with sticks. Customize your tour with our affordable range of day-trips to include a koto performance in Japan's traditional capital of Kyoto.There are many large Japanese drums, or taiko. The koto usually is used to serenade or company a tea ceremony, providing a relaxing and calming atmosphere.Įnjoy the sounds of the Koto while on vacation with Japan Deluxe Tours during a tea ceremony on our best-selling line of small-group tours and trips. The Koto also spawned similar instruments, such as the shamisen and kin. While the sound may not be as popular today due to Western pop-music influence, the Koto is still finding success in various genres and still is beloved by many in Japan. Players can adjust the strings and play using their thumb, index, and middle fingers. The Koto usually has 13 strings (though there are 17 stringed variants), and is made from kiri wood. The koto is the national instrument of Japan, and measures at about 180 centimeters, or 71 Inches, in length. Tracing it's origins to the Chinese Zheng, the Koto is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument.
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