Introduction to 9 Traditional Japanese Instruments | Explaining Their Unique Tones
Sep 03,2025 Update
When exploring Japanese traditional culture, many people find themselves drawn to wagakki with their unique tones. These traditional Japanese instruments have been close to the hearts of the Japanese people throughout their long history, appearing in court music (gagaku), folk songs (minyo), theatrical arts like kabuki and noh, and even in classic New Year's repertoire.
This article introduces nine representative types of wagakki, carefully explaining their origins, playing methods, and distinctive tonal characteristics. Whether you're just beginning to develop an interest in wagakki or seeking deeper understanding, this guide will serve as a valuable reference.
Table of Contents
1. 9 Traditional Japanese Instruments
1-1. Taiko (Japanese Drums)
1-2. Shamisen
1-3. Biwa
1-4. Kokyū
1-5. Shakuhachi
1-6. Shō
1-7. Shinobue
1-8. Koto
1-9. Kotsuzumi
2. Tickets for Japan’s traditional performances — on “Tickets in Japan”
Summary
1. 9 Traditional Japanese Instruments
Wagakki are traditional Japanese instruments from ancient times, each possessing unique tones and histories. Here we introduce nine representative types of wagakki.
1-1. Taiko (Japanese Drums)
A taiko is percussion instrument that produce sound by striking leather stretched over a wooden body with bachi (drumsticks). They are a type of membranophone that produces sound by vibrating the leather stretched over the body. Representative wadaiko include miya-daiko (long-bodied drums/tower drums) and oke-dō-daiko (bucket-bodied drums). They have been used in a wide range of settings including shrines, temples, and Bon festival dancing.
Miya-daiko are typically performed mounted on stands. Various performance styles are possible, including one person playing multiple drums or two people playing opposite sides. Oke-dō-daiko, with bucket-shaped bodies and leather tightened with cords, are indispensable for lion dances and nenbutsu-odori (Buddhist prayer dances).
In recent years, a group performance style called kumi-daiko, with Suwa Taiko as one of its roots, has emerged and gained high popularity both domestically and internationally as dynamic, powerful performances. Beyond their role in traditional music, wadaiko are attracting attention in contemporary performing arts and international events.
1-2. Shamisen
The shamisen is a representative traditional Japanese stringed instrument that produces sound by plucking three strings with a plectrum called bachi. The string vibrations resonate in a drum-like body, creating rich tones.
The origins of the shamisen lie in the sanshin that arrived from the Ryukyu Kingdom (present-day Okinawa) in the late 16th century, which was then modified in Japanese style to become the current shamisen. It spread nationwide shortly after its introduction and reached its zenith during the Edo period as an indispensable instrument for theatrical music and folk performing arts.
Shamisen are classified into three types based on their intended use: hosozao (thin neck), chūzao (medium neck), and futozao (thick neck). The hosozao shamisen features high, light tones and is used in nagauta, kouta, and hauta. The chūzao shamisen has a slightly thicker, more settled tone and is used in jiuta, kiyomoto, and tokiwazu. The futozao shamisen produces heavy, powerful sounds and is used in bunraku's gidayū-bushi and Tsugaru shamisen. The versatile shamisen is an instrument deeply rooted in Japanese culture.
1-3. Biwa
The biwa is a type of chordophone traditional instrument used in Japanese classical music and narrative performances, featuring a resonating body with an attached neck (sao) strung with strings and played with a plectrum (bachi) or fingers. Those used in gagaku are specifically called gaku-biwa and are played by sitting cross-legged (agura), holding the instrument horizontally, and strumming down the strings with a plectrum.
The biwa originally emerged in West Asia, passed through China, and arrived in Japan just before the Nara period. Japanese biwa are broadly divided into two lineages: gaku-biwa used in court music, and mōsō-biwa used by blind monks as accompaniment for religious music. The mōsō-biwa later developed into diverse styles including Heike-biwa, Satsuma-biwa, and Chikuzen-biwa.
Heike-biwa was used in heikyoku that narrated the Tale of the Heike (Heike Monogatari), playing a crucial role in conveying the story's worldview to audiences. Satsuma-biwa was also valued as part of samurai education, characterized by powerful, striking performance styles. Chikuzen-biwa is a style that emerged during the Meiji period, known for its elegant narration by female performers.
1-4. Kokyū
The kokyū is the only bowed string instrument among traditional Japanese instruments, producing sound by drawing a bow across strings. Resembling a miniature shamisen in shape, it has three or four strings and is played by changing the angle of the instrument body while applying the bow.
During the Edo period, it was widely performed in sankyoku ensemble format alongside koto and shamisen, but from the Meiji period onward, shakuhachi increasingly replaced kokyū. Nevertheless, kokyū continues to be used in kabuki music and other contexts for its effective performance utilizing its mournful resonance.
The kokyū is a chordophone that resonates strings through friction, producing delicate and melancholic tones well-suited to expressing Japanese emotion. It is also used in regional performing arts such as Owara Kaze-no-Bon festival, adding unique depth to Japanese traditional music.
1-5. Shakuhachi
The shakuhachi is a vertical bamboo flute with a simple structure featuring five finger holes, classified as an aerophone. Unlike instruments with reeds, it produces sound by blowing air into the utaguchi (mouthpiece). It is called shakuhachi because its standard length is 1 shaku 8 sun (approximately 54cm).
The shakuhachi arrived from Tang China during the Nara period and was initially used as a gagaku instrument, but disappeared around the 12th century. The current shakuhachi originates from the religious music Fuke shakuhachi played by komusō (wandering monks) during the Edo period, who played it instead of chanting sutras while traveling throughout the country. When the Fuke sect was abolished during the Meiji period, it spread among common people and began being performed in various contexts including sankyoku ensemble with koto and shamisen, and as accompaniment for minyo (folk songs).
Different length pipes are used depending on the musical piece, with longer pipes producing lower tones. Its melancholic tone not only adds depth to traditional music but is also highly regarded in contemporary music and international collaborations.
1-6. Shō
The shō is an aerophone wind instrument used in gagaku, featuring a distinctive shape with bamboo pipes bundled in a circle, each fitted with metal reeds. Each bamboo pipe produces one note, and the same sound is produced whether inhaling or exhaling, allowing for continuous performance without breaks.
The shō arrived from China just before the Nara period and has been valued as a melodic instrument in gagaku. Particularly in the technique called aitake, it can produce 5-6 notes simultaneously to create chords, generating harmonic resonance that is rare among traditional Japanese instruments.
Its clear, high, and transparent tone is described as descending from heaven, and the shō is also called hōshō. This name comes from its resemblance to a phoenix (hōō) at rest. The shō possesses both visual beauty and ethereal sound, radiating a particularly mystical presence within gagaku.
1-7. Shinobue
The shinobue is a transverse flute made by drilling finger holes in thin bamboo called medake and finishing the interior with lacquer. It is a type of aerophone that produces sound by blowing air directly into the utaguchi (mouthpiece), utilizing air vibration, and is characterized by the soft, rustic tone unique to bamboo.
The shinobue is used in various traditional performing arts including kabuki music, minyo (folk songs), and matsuri-bayashi (festival music), playing central roles in performances. In kabuki music, up to 12 shinobue may be used selectively according to musical passages, and performers sometimes carry multiple flutes of different lengths to accommodate various pitch ranges.
Its simple, nostalgic tone is valued in both ensemble and solo performances, widely beloved as an instrument that musically expresses Japanese landscapes and emotions. It is also one of the more accessible Japanese instruments for beginners.
1-8. Koto
The koto is a stringed instrument played by attaching finger picks called gisō (artificial nails) and plucking 13 strings stretched over a long wooden body. The hollow body resonates with string vibrations, and pitch is adjusted by moving bridges called ji placed beneath the strings.
Originally used in gagaku (court music), the koto spread among common people in the late Muromachi period. During the Edo period, the shamisen master Yatsuhashi Kengyō developed more accessible tuning methods, establishing the foundation of koto music. Subsequently, schools like Ikuta-ryū and Yamada-ryū emerged, and ensemble performances with shamisen became popular.
The tone of the koto is soft and clear, characterized by gentle resonance. From the Meiji period onward, it spread among common people, with new compositions like "Spring Sea" (Haru no Umi) by Michio Miyagi, and modern collaborations with contemporary music and Western instruments have been incorporated. Note that the koto and kin are different instruments with distinct structures.
1-9. Kotsuzumi
The kotsuzumi is a frame drum with leather stretched over an hourglass-shaped wooden body. It is a type of membranophone that can change tonal color by adjusting leather tension. The pitch and resonance can be freely controlled during performance by varying the grip strength on cords called shirabe.
The kotsuzumi originates from India, arriving in Japan via China as a gagaku instrument. During the Muromachi period, it became established as part of the shibyōshi (four-beat ensemble) that forms the core of hayashi (musical accompaniment), performed together with ōtsuzumi (large hand drum), shime-daiko (tightened drum), and nōkan (noh flute). From the Edo period onward, it was incorporated into kabuki music and valued as an important instrument that colors the stage with its distinctive resonance and rhythm.
The kotsuzumi is characterized by being placed on the shoulder and struck with bare hands, and through adjusting skin moisture and cord tension, it can express soft, lower tones. It supports Japanese traditional music from classical to folk performing arts.
2. Tickets for Japan’s traditional performances — on “Tickets in Japan”
To truly experience Japan’s traditional culture, we recommend attending a live traditional performance. Immerse yourself in the depth of Japanese culture through music and stage arts. You can easily purchase tickets on Tickets in Japan.
Summary
The stringed instruments koto, shamisen, and biwa each possess different origins and playing methods, while among flutes, shakuhachi and shinobue are known for tones that evoke melancholy and simplicity. The mystical resonance of shō used in gagaku, the powerful rhythms of wadaiko, and the delicate expressiveness of kotsuzumi all speak to the richness of Japanese musical culture.
Wagakki have long been beloved by many people as mediums that reflect Japan's natural environment and spirituality. In recent years, collaborations with contemporary music and international artists beyond traditional performing arts have increased, and their possibilities continue to expand.
*This article was created based on information current as of June 2025.
