A koto is a stringed Japanese instrument that is frequently heard in traditional Japanese music. If you’ve ever heard Japanese music, especially traditional and folk music, you’re probably familiar with the koto’s distinctive twang. The koto, like many other instruments, can be played solo or in a group, and there are many different styles and schools of koto playing, making it a very versatile instrument.
According to historical evidence, the koto is descended from the Chinese instrument known as the guqin, which was introduced to Japan in the eighth century CE. The koto has a lot in common with the Western zither. Throughout the 17th century, kotos were primarily heard in court performances, often solo players; however, people of all classes and levels of ability began to adapt the koto for traditional folk music, and people of all classes and levels of ability began to play the koto in a variety of settings.
The instrument is shaped like a long oblong box with two fixed bridges on either side to which one to seventeen silk strings are attached, though 13 is the most common number. The instrument is played with picks worn on the fingers of one hand, and it has a series of movable wooden or ivory bridges that can be adjusted for tuning, allowing musicians to create a specific sound.
Koto is traditionally played while seated on the floor. Many people associate this stringed instrument with geisha, Japanese entertainers who may perform song and dance performances accompanied traditional instruments such as the koto. Modern musicians have also attempted to adapt the koto for use in a variety of contemporary compositions, many of which are very different from traditional Japanese music.
If you live in a large city or a region with a large Japanese population, you might be able to hear a koto performance; a cultural center or theatre would be a good source of information about koto and other Japanese instrument performances. If you want to get a feel for the sound of the koto, there are numerous recordings available in music stores and online. A store that sells musical instruments may be a good place to start for people interested in learning to play the koto, as the staff can help connect interested musicians with instructors.