Koto Music

Koto music originated in Japan over a thousand years ago, when someone decided that plucking strings stretched across a wooden box was an excellent way to express one’s feelings, possibly to avoid having to actually say them. Characterised by its delicate, ethereal sound created by the koto, a zither-like instrument, it’s about as soothing as a hot cup of tea on a rainy day, assuming the tea is very good and the rain isn’t too bothersome. Interestingly, it became popular in the Heian period, which is a fancy way of saying that historical Japanese royalty probably knew how to throw a decent soiree or two with some light koto in the background, setting a serene vibe for all the poetry recitals.