JAPANESE THEATER

Front

Pear-shaped lute.

Back

biwa

Front

Long-necked fretless Japanese lute

Back

Shamisen

Front

Japanese transverse flute or fue

Back

yokobue

Front

Japanese end-blown bamboo flute.

Back

shakuhachi

Front

Music for special effects in Kabuki, with invisible musicians and audience seated low. Enhanced by drums, gongs, bells, and cymbals.

Back

geza

Front

Term for hidden musicians

Back

kagebayashi

Front

Used to mark the ghost's appearance with flute and drum.

Back

Hyudorodoro

Front

Performed on a tiered platform with shamisen, drums, and flute.

Back

nagauta

Front

Onstage music performance with dramatic recitation and shamisen accompaniment.

Back

Debayashi

Front

Musical ensemble for kabuki theater featuring shamisen players, with Debayashi onstage behind the geza.

Back

hayashi