Learn Wagakki with
Zakuro Show
*Private lessons are available for groups of 5 and more people.
Get to know Wagakki Instruments
ZAKURO SHOW和楽器の紹介①「箏」について
1300年ほど前から中国から伝わった、日本の伝統楽器の一つ「箏」。その弾き方と音について紹介します。２つの流派、生田流と山田流の違いは？ZAKURO SHOWの演奏者が、わかり易く説明します！
毎月1回2公演のあるZAKURO SHOWで、和楽器についてたくさん学ぼう！
(c) ビデオ by 若生志乃
ZAKURO SHOW presents professional musicians talking about their musical instruments! Learn about Koto, an instrument played in Japan for ~1300 years. What is the difference between Ikuta School and Yamada School of playing Koto?
English subtitles are available!
(c) Video by Shino Wako
ZAKURO SHOW和楽器の紹介②「打楽器」について
演奏の時にどんな打楽器が使われてるか見てみましょう。小鼓という楽器の珍しさについて聞きましょう。
ZAKURO SHOWの演奏者が、わかり易く説明します！
毎月1回2公演のあるZAKURO SHOWで、和楽器についてたくさん学ぼう！
(c) ビデオ by 若生志乃
ZAKURO SHOW presents professional musicians talking about their musical instruments! Learn about Japanese drums, for instance, about a unique drum "Kotsuzumi" which exists only in Japan. How exactly is it played?
English subtitles are available!
(c) Video by Shino Wako
ZAKURO SHOW和楽器の紹介③「尺八」について
日本の伝統楽器の一つ「尺八」は、瞑想や和楽器演奏で昔から使われている吹奏楽器。「尺八」の特別な奏法や弾き方、音の違いは？ZAKURO SHOWの演奏者が、わかり易く説明します！
毎月1回2公演のZAKURO SHOWで、和楽器についてたくさん学ぼう！
(c) ビデオ by 若生志乃
ZAKURO SHOW presents professional musicians talking about their musical instruments! Learn about bamboo Japanese flute Shakuhachi, an instrument used for traditional music, spiritual rituals, meditation, and others. Where does the name Shakuhachi come from? What are the unique techniques of playing the instrument?
English subtitles available!
(c) Video by Shino Wako
About Japanese Traditional Instruments
The Koto is about 1300 years old. In the Nara Period (8th century) it was introduced to Japan from China (Tang dynasty period).
The body is made of paulownia wood. It’s the same wood we use for wardrobes and drawers in our homes. Primarily strings are made of silk, but lately, one can find a lot of strings made of synthetic fiber.
This Koto has 13 strings.
Japanese harp Koto
Jushichigen is a bass koto. Very famous Koto player and composer Miyagi Michio created this instrument about 100 years ago.
The name of the instrument translates "Seventeen strings".
Japanese harp Jushichigen (Bass)
About 800 years ago Shamisen came to Okinawa, which used to be called the Ryukyu Kingdome back in the day. After that it landed on the main Japanese island Honshu. The instrument evolved from a smaller form called “Sanshin”. Shamisen is made of Redwood, a very hard wood to work with.
Shamisen
Shakuhachi flute is made out of bamboo. The most common size is 54cm, but there are shorter and longer flutes too. The instrument’s name is derived from its original length - one Shaku (11.93 inches [30.3cm]) and eight (Japanese: Hachi) Sun (1.2 inches [3cm]).
A player can change the pitch downward and upward by adjusting the blowing angle. This characteristic is unique as compared to other instruments around the world. By opening and closing the space between mouth and Shakuhachi flute (changing the blowing angle), a player can adjust the pitch.
When you produce a vibrato with wind instruments in general, you will create a vibration by adjusting the blowing strength (the amount of air). However, in the case of Shakuhachi, vibrato is produced by changing the pitch.
Another Shakuhachi technique is called "Muraiki" (uneven breath). Japanese music is known for the use of noise, and the oldest Japanese melodies are quite "noisy". So basically, we would use uneven/random breath to produce a turbulent powerful, breathy sound effect.
Japanese flute Shakuhachi
