10 Traditional Japanese Instruments: Features and Hands-on Workshops

The heartbeat of Japan, traditional Japanese instruments are important cultural art forms that have inspired artists for centuries. Often used in performances to create an excellent storytelling atmosphere, these instruments have enchanted those who listen to their melodies, often igniting strong emotions and a sense of wonder and mystery.

In this article, we introduce 10 Japanese musical instruments you should know about, what makes them special, how they sound, and workshops where you can try them firsthand.

Traditional Japanese Instruments and Workshops

1. Shamisen
2. Taiko Drums
3. Koto: 13-String Zither
4. Shakuhachi Flute
5. Sanshin
6. Kokyu
7. Sho
8. Tsuzumi Hand-Drum
9. Shinobue Flute
10. Biwa Lute

1. Shamisen

From modern-day pop and rock tunes to kabuki theater and folk music, the shamisen is an incredible instrument that can be used diversely across multiple genres! Originally from China, Japan welcomed the shamisen around the 16th century, and it has been a hit ever since.

The instrument is made from wood and animal skin, featuring three strings that stretch along its long neck, a square hollow base, and three large wooden tuners called a tenjin. There are three types of shamisen based on the width of the neck.

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Artists use one hand to hold down the cords along the neck of the instrument while the other hand uses a large rectangular plectrum to pluck the cords on the instrument's base, similar to playing the guitar.

Aomori Prefecture's Tsugaru City is particularly famous for its Tsugaru shamisen culture, which gave birth to world-renowned artists such as the Yoshida Brothers. There is even a Tsugaru Shamisen World Cup held every year in May for two days in Hirosaki. You can learn more about Tsugaru shamisen culture on the official website Amazing Aomori.

2. Taiko Drums

The heartbeat of festivals! With a history of over 1,400 years in Japan, taiko or wadaiko is a type of drum that can be heard through a wide range of events and entertainment. From the thundering, rolling drums heard at epic festivals and used for intimidation and commands in intense historical battles, to the echoing taiko drums used to purify Shinto rituals, these drums have ignited passion, bravery, and power in the Japanese spirit for centuries.

The instrument features long wooden drumsticks, a large wooden barrel used as the base, and stretched animal skin attached with nails to both ends of the barrel.

These instruments are easily recognizable by their strong, chest-thumping boom. Visitors can hear them at festivals and taiko drum performances and even try them out at certain workshops. A great workout for those interested, visitors can also seek out the famous arcade machine called Taiko no Tatsujin in arcades.

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DRUM TAO is one of the famous contemporary performer units focusing on taiko drum music. You can enjoy their performances at the Open-Air Theater TAO-no-Oka located within the Aso Kuji National Park in Kyushu, or during one of their national tours when they perform on stages in major cities.

3. Koto

The koto, often called the Japanese harp, is a hypnotic string instrument that, when played, creates high-pitched, mysterious melodies. Dating back to the Nara period (719-784), the koto typically has 13 strings, though there have been kotos known to have 20 strings. This instrument comes in four different types: gakuso, chikuso, zokuso, and tagenso.

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Similar to a harp, musicians pluck the strings while sitting down to create melodies. Koto players use one hand with three small plectra clipped onto the end of their fingers and hold down the strings with the other hand, similar to playing a guitar, to help create a song. The sound the koto produces is full of charm; when you hear it, you can't help but feel like it is telling a story.

Fukuyama, a city in Hiroshima Prefecture, is renowned for producing koto instruments.

4. Shakuhachi

Known for its haunting, eerie sound, the shakuhachi is a wind instrument beloved in Japan and often featured in various music genres such as folk and contemporary music. The sound is commonly used in Zen meditation music and traditional Japanese music, reflecting its introduction to Japan through Buddhism from China in the 7th century.

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The shakuhachi flute, traditionally made from the roots of Madake bamboo, is easily recognizable by its bamboo-like appearance, gently tapering towards the end of the instrument. On the front of the body are five holes, with one on the back where the player's thumb is placed. Musicians control the instrument's airflow by utilizing air from their lungs and manipulating their fingers over the instrument's holes.

5. Sanshin

The sanshin, not to be confused with the shamisen, is a small instrument that resembles the shamisen in design, but there are notable differences between the two. Originating from Okinawa, the sanshin is much smaller in size compared to its counterpart. It is a banjo-like instrument featuring a long neck, three strings, and a circular hollow base made from a coconut shell wrapped in snakeskin.

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Musicians play the sanshin by attaching a claw-like pluck to the end of their fingers, rather than using the rectangular pick used for the shamisen. Said to be over 600 years old and originating from China, the sanshin has deep roots in Okinawan culture and has been used throughout history to convey stories to the island's inhabitants, in cultural performances, and in traditional Okinawan music.

The instrument is a symbol of Okinawan culture and is frequently featured in various cultural events in Okinawa. The unique sound of the Sanshin captivates its listeners, drawing them into delightful stories filled with wonder and charm.

6. Kokyu

Known as a Japanese spiked fiddle, the kokyu is a tall, thin instrument with a square wooden base wrapped in stretched animal skin. Similar to a violin, the instrument is played by sliding a bamboo bow with horsehair across its strings.

Although the sound effects resemble those of a violin, several differences distinguish the kokyu from its counterpart. Besides the size and shape of the body, the kokyu has only three strings (sometimes four) and is played with the palm of the hand facing towards the body.

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Additionally, the kokyu can be played standing up by attaching a string around one's waist, but it is commonly played sitting down, with the instrument resting on one's lap. The instrument's head is similar to a shamisen with three large tuners, but it can be easily differentiated without the bow by its long pointed rest at the base of the body. The kokyu produces high-pitched tones yet can convey a range of emotions, including sorrowful songs.

7. Sho

The sho is an incredible wind instrument, played similarly to a flute. The musician produces sound by blowing air through the reed and manipulating their fingers across the instrument's holes to play different pitches. Uniquely, the instrument resembles the pipes found in church pipe organs, featuring 17 bamboo pipes of various sizes arranged in a triangular shape, making it not only impressive to hear but also visually striking.

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Within each pipe resides a bronze reed that produces the sound of the individual pipe when air interacts with it. If you have visited Japan or reside there, you have likely heard this sound while strolling through a temple or participating in a shrine's spiritual ceremony. The instrument is commonly used in Buddhist temples for meditation and sacred rituals.

The sho has a long history in Japan and, similar to the kou, it dates back to the Nara period (710 - 784). To this day, the sho remains an essential part of Japanese culture, featured in sacred events, meditation practices, gagaku (ancient court music), and more recently, in contemporary modern music.

8. Tsuzumi Hand Drum

The tsuzumi is a Japanese hand drum consisting of an hourglass-like wooden tube with stretched animal skin covering each end of the instrument, creating a hollow chamber that reverberates to produce its iconic "po" sound.

This drum can be easily distinguished from taiko drums for several reasons. The tsuzumi's sounds are typically higher in pitch, and the instrument is played by striking one hand against the base rather than using drumsticks. Tsuzumi drums can also be carried, with the largest ones able to rest on a person's shoulder. In contrast, taiko drums are often so large and heavy that they are mounted to a frame or placed on the ground, immobile unless moved by pushing a float to which they are attached.

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The tsuzumi comes in two main types: the otsuzumi, carried on the left shoulder with one hand stabilizing it while the other hand strikes it (a moderately sized drum), and the kotsuzumi, a smaller drum played using two hands, producing a high-pitched sound when struck.

Musicians can create different tones by striking various parts of the drumhead, as demonstrated in the accompanying video. The tsuzumi is frequently observed in Japanese traditional performing arts like Noh theater, Kabuki, and Kagura, where it is used by characters to accentuate their emotions and dialogue.

Kanazawa, a city famous for its vibrant Noh theater culture, is known for its Tsuzumi Gate, a gate-like structure inspired by the shape of a tsuzumi, which is located in from of Kanazawa Station.

9. Shinobue

A simple yet ingenious design, the shinobue sings to the hearts of those who hear its melodies! This bamboo flute is often heard in emotional soundtracks, music related to Japanese anime, and films, creating incredibly clear melodies that soothe the soul.

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Musicians hold the flute to the side of their face and blow gently into the mouthpiece to pass air through the pipe holes. By covering and uncovering these holes along the flute's body, players can produce a variety of tones and effects.

The shinobue can be found in various music genres, including contemporary compositions, festival music, and traditional folk music. Bamboo flutes have existed in Japan since ancient times, evolving and refining over centuries. While the exact origins of the shinobue are not documented, it is believed to have been in use as early as the 8th century in Japan.

10. Biwa Lute

Associated with the goddess Benten, the biwa is an instrument often depicted in murals, statues, and more within the serene shrines dedicated to this goddess, holding significant importance in Japanese storytelling and legends.

This instrument is a large wooden pear-shaped lute adorned with four, sometimes five, silk strings. Japan features two types of biwa: the Gagaku Biwa, utilized in epic tales like the Tale of Heike and in Gagaku performances, and the Satsuma Biwa, a smaller variant primarily employed in folk tales and Rokyoku songs.

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An ancient instrument, the biwa has evolved as an art form since its introduction in 7th-century Japan. Presently, there exist diverse playing styles for the instrument. Musicians generate a wide range of music by using a large plectrum called a bachi to pluck, strum the strings, and tap on the wooden base. The sound of the biwa resonates in Japanese traditional music and has also found its way into modern and contemporary music in recent years.

Explore the World of Japanese Musical Instruments

Japanese traditional music is a fascinating world on its own serving as a source of delight and inspiration for contemporary music, too. If you have the chance, do try to learn how to play one of these instruments - it might open the door to a new range of sound and music experiences for you!

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