The Biwa

The biwa is a lute. Its true ancestors is the Arabic Ud, which reached China during
the time of the Silk Road from Central Asia, during the Han Period (206 BC-220
AD). It came to Japan during the Nara period (553-794) from China, as well as a
smaller and similar lute which came from India. Like all lutes, thebiwahas a pear-
shaped body, with four or five strings and four or more wooden frets. The strings
are plucked with a quite rather large wooden plectrum, called a bachi, which is held
in the palm of the right hand. One of the particular sound characteristics of the
Japanesebiwais a buzzing resonance, called sawari or rattle; an effect produced
between the strings and the frets. The strings are made of silk or gut and are thus
very elastic.

Horagai

() (or jinkai () ) are large conch shells, usually from Charonia tritonis, that have been
used as trumpets in Japan for many centuries. The instrument, which has served a number of
purposes throughout Japanese history, has been given a number of Japanese names depending on
its function. Special schools still teach students to play the traditional music associated with the
conch.
Ichigenkin
The ichigenkin (,
literally "one-string zither",
also sumagoto) is
a Japanese single-
stringed zither. Its body is a
slender, slightly curved plank
carved from kiri(Paulownia
tomentosa) wood. Its
raw silk string is plucked with
a tubular plectrum placed on
the index finger of the right
hand while a
tubular ivory device similar
to a guitar slide placed over
the middle finger of the left
hand slightly depresses the
stringthough not so hard
that it presses against the hardwood soundboardto vary the pitch. Both the plectrum and slide are
referred to as rokan. As with the Chinese guqin, from which it was likely originally adapted,
the ichigenkin has no frets, so sliding tones are an important part of the technique of the instrument.

Hyoshigi
The hyshigi () is a
simple Japanese musical instrument,
consisting of two pieces
of hardwood or bamboo often
connected by a thin ornamental rope.
The clappers are played together or on
the floor to create a cracking sound.
Sometimes they are struck slowly at
first, then faster and faster.