History

The koto is descended from a similar Chinese instrument called the guzheng. It was brought to Japan around the 7^th or 8^th century and found popularity in Japanese court music where it was called the gakuso. The instrument was popular among the court and the wealthy and music for the koto continued to develop. The general populace also grew to appreciate the koto and in the 16^th and 17^th centuries multiple systems or schools of koto music were founded. Several of those schools of koto music continue to be popular today. In addition the koto has continued to be developed in recent times with new playing techniques and combinations with western classical and popular music.