Traditional koto music was played by the well-educated and demanded precise, technical skills. This student was known as Yatsuhashi Kengyo, and he’s credited for bringing koto music to the people, and is even called “the father of modern koto music.” This all changed in the 17th century when one of the court’s own koto musicians began teaching koto to a blind shamisen player. Unlike the shamisen, the koto began life as an instrument of the royal court, which made it inaccessible for ordinary people. The standard Koto has 13 strings, plucked with three finger picks. The shamisen also recently made an appearance in the animated film Kubo and The Two Strings, with the partially-blinded main character, Kubo, performing in the streets of his local village. Modern musicians are making the most of this by using the shamisen for a variety of genres from rock to jazz, and even bluegrass. With a history of being played by blind street performers, who relied on improvisation instead of sheet music, the shamisen values individuality and raw emotion with few rules to follow. Today it’s the shamisen’s roots as an instrument of the people and its connection to folk music that appeals to modern musicians. While the shamisen had already captured the hearts of the common people, it wasn’t long before kabuki and its musical accompaniment, the shamisen, climbed the social ladder and found a place in Japanese high culture. Their performance styles meant the shamisen became associated with folk music and narrative performances, and quickly became the expected accompaniment to kabuki theatre. The shamisen was first adopted by blind musicians, street performers and geisha. It’s believed to have been inspired by instruments that arrived in Osaka from China in the 16th century. The shamisen has a relatively short history in Japan. The neck is designed to allow the lower string to connect with the fingerboard, creating a unique buzzing sound when played, known as sawari. The shamisen has a basic form similar to that of the banjo, with three strings that are plucked with a large pick called a bachi. These four instruments are not just credited with creating traditional Japanese music, but can also tell a story about Japanese culture.
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