koto

American  

[koh-toh, kaw-taw] / ˈkoʊ toʊ, ˈkɔˈtɔ /

noun

plural

kotos, koto

1. a Japanese musical instrument having numerous strings, usually seven or thirteen, that are stretched over a convex wooden sounding board and are plucked with three plectra, worn on the thumb, index finger, and middle finger of one hand.

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koto British  

/ ˈkəʊtəʊ /

noun

1. a Japanese stringed instrument, consisting of a rectangular wooden body over which are stretched silk strings, which are plucked with plectrums or a nail-like device

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Etymology

Origin of koto

Borrowed into English from Japanese around 1785–95

Example Sentences

It featured Japanese instruments like taiko drums and koto yet played jazz and rhythm and blues, laced with pop and funk.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2022

This is a series of, of all things, trombone and koto duets.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 19, 2020

“We have Japanese koto, with Indian tabla, with flamenco guitar, with African percussion,” he told The Post.

From Washington Post • Jun. 1, 2020

“But I chose to use actual koto strings on it, simply because they have a nicer sound.”

From New York Times • Jul. 21, 2015

The tones of this song when arranged to represent the scale of E minor coincide exactly with the scale tones of two of the tunings of the Japanese 13 stringed koto.

From The Tinguian Social, Religious, and Economic Life of a Philippine Tribe by Cole, Fay-Cooper