Japan
Japanese

Paulownia wood, bone, silk strings, fabric 
Mid 20th century
Length: 74 inches
Chordophones – Zithers

The koto (kin) is a Japanese plucked board zither with 13 strings and movable bridges.  It is the national instrument of Japan and is derived from the Chinese zheng and se.  The koto, made of paulownia wood, is 74 inches long.  It is played by plucking the strings with the thumb and the first two fingers of the right hand, that are fitted with ivory plectrums called tsume.  The left hand alters the pitch by pulling or pressing the strings to the left of the bridges or can pluck the strings along with the right hand on the right side of the bridges, as when playing an arpeggio.  The koto is tuned to a pentatonic scale.  Traditionally it was played while kneeling on the floor, but today is usually placed on a stand so the performer can sit on a chair.