The Koto is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument, roughly 1.8 meters long, made from Paulownia wood. It features 13 strings stretched over movable bridges used for tuning. The player wears three finger picks (tsume) on the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the right hand to pluck the strings, while the left hand applies pressure to the strings behind the bridges to create 'bent' notes and vibrato. Historically, the Koto was an instrument of the imperial court. The most famous Koto musician, Yatsuhashi Kengyo (17th century), is credited with creating the 'In' scale, which gives Japanese music its distinctive, often melancholic, sound. The Koto is said to represent a dragon; the top is the 'dragon's shell,' and the various parts are named after the dragon's head, tail, and stomach. It remains a central symbol of Japanese classical music and is often played during New Year celebrations.