![]() 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. There are many large Japanese drums, or taiko. ![]()
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