Question 1

True or false: The koto is played sitting on the floor, with the instrument placed on the ground in front of the player.

Accepted Answer

True. Players sit seiza-style (kneeling) on the floor, with the koto resting on the ground. This traditional posture is essential for proper playing technique.

Question 2

True or false: Koto players use their fingernails, but they never use picks or plectrums of any kind.

Accepted Answer

False. Koto players actually wear three plectra (tsume) on the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the right hand. These are usually made of ivory or plastic.

Question 3

True or false: Koto strings are tuned by moving wooden bridges that sit under each string.

Accepted Answer

True. Each string has a movable bridge (ji), allowing precise tuning. This design is unique among string instruments and enables quick key changes.

Question 4

True or false: The koto is rarely used in modern music and is only heard in classical Japanese performances.

Accepted Answer

False. The koto appears in pop, jazz, and electronic music. Artists like Michiyo Yagi and the band Rin' have blended it with modern genres, gaining international fans.

Question 5

True or false: The koto is Japan's national instrument and has 13 strings traditionally made of silk.

Accepted Answer

True. The koto is Japan's national instrument, typically with 13 silk strings. It dates back to the 8th century and was originally brought from China.

Question 6

True or false: A koto is typically made from a single hollowed-out log of paulownia wood.

Accepted Answer

True. Paulownia (kiri) wood is lightweight and resonant. The body is carved from one piece, giving the koto its distinctive sound and portability.

Question 7

True or false: Koto strings are always made of steel or nylon, never silk, because silk breaks too easily.

Accepted Answer

False. Traditional koto strings were always silk. Modern strings are often nylon or silk-core with metal winding, but pure silk strings are still used by purists for their warm tone.

Question 8

True or false: The koto has only 13 strings, but some modern versions have 17 or even 21 strings.

Accepted Answer

True. The 17-string koto (jūshichigen) was developed in the 20th century for lower bass parts. 21-string versions also exist, expanding the instrument's range.

Koto Trivia Questions