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 ...

Concerts featuring Chinese and Japanese string instruments will be held this month and in December in Kyoto. A koto concert (www.kac.or.jp/events/8738/) will start at ...

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 ...

The Japanese three-stringed musical instrument shamisen has a glorious history. Originating from the Chinese instrument sanxian, shamisen was introduced in the sixteenth century in Japan. Shamisen can ...

Amid cold conditions at Marusan Hashimoto Co.'s studio, silk threads are stretched between hooks on pillars and excess glue wiped off with a cloth in a process for making strings for Japanese ...