Music of Japan Study Guide

The national instrument of Japan is:

• Koto

• Shamisen

• Taiko

• Shakuhachi

The koto originated in which country?

• China

• Japan

• Korea

• Vietnam

Which is not one of the 3 categories of traditional Japanese music?

• Instrumental

• Court music

• Sizhu

• Theatrical

The biwa is related to which Chinese instrument?

• Dizi

• Erhu

• Guzheng

• Pipa

When the biwa hoshi would travel, what did they do?

• They painted landscapes.

• Storytelling

• They taught martial arts.

• They sold goods.

What was a common physical characteristic of the biwa hoshi?

• Blue eyes

• Tall stature

• Long hair

• Blindness

A taiko drum is made of which material?

• Glass and rubber

• Metal and plastic

• Zelkova trees (wood) and cowhide

• Stone and fabric

Aside from music concerts, what might a taiko drum have been used for?

Shakuhachi is made of which material?

• Wood

• Bamboo

• Metal

• Plastic

What do the words "shaku" and "hachi" mean?