Composer Miya Masaoka has started playing the "Laser Koto," a futuristic version of the traditional Japanese stringed instrument, the Koto, that's been around since the 8th century. Masaoka outfitted ...

Enjoy a live performance of the shamisen, a traditional Japanese string instrument, performed by Kiki.

A koto is a traditional Japanese 13-stringed instrument similar to a zither, with movable bridges for tuning. Players wear three picks known as tsume on their thumb and first two fingers to pluck the ...

7 stringed instruments from around the world can help us appreciate where we are and where we’ve come from. The world is such an incredibly diverse place—from the natural world to the world of culture ...

The koto is a traditional Japanese 13-stringed musical instrument that resembles a horizontal harp. Think of the sound you’d expect to hear when geishas are entertaining samurai in an ancient castle.