KOTO

The koto, a type of Japanese zither, is the most popular Japanese musical instrument.  The character [琴], read as ‘koto’, is used to refer to the Japanese zither.

The koto was introduced from China, and as a standard, has 13 strings.  Aside from the standard 13 string koto there is also a 7 string kin (chinese “qin”) and a 6 string koto called yamatogoto or wagon.

In general, 13 strings of the same thickness are used, and mobile bridges called kotoji are arranged under the strings for tuning with the instrument tuned in accordance with the piece of music to be played.  The koto is played with tsume, small plectra or picks, attached to three fingers on the right hand.   In gagaku, traditional Japanese court music, the koto was played as part of an ensemble, after that, as an accompaniment for temple ballads, and actively came to be performed solo during the Edo period (1603-1868).

Yatsuhashi Kengyo is widely recognised as the founder of modern koto.  Two distinct traditions of koto, the Ikuta school and the Yamada school, also exist.  The koto actively features in ensembles with shamisen, a type of traditional Japanese lute, and shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese bamboo flute (and at one time also the kokyu, or Japanese fiddle).  Since the Meiji Era (1868-1912), a steady stream of new koto pieces have been produced.  Following the Taisho period (1912-1926), the 17 string bass koto, the 20 string, 25 string, and 30 string koto that further broadened the range, were also created.

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