The Shamisen,(or syamisen) 三味線 is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument. Derived from the Okinawan sanshin, the shamisen consists of three strings stretched over a rectangular body. Its distinctive sound resonates in the world of kabuki, bunraku and min'yō, Japanese folk music. This stringed instrument, measuring between 1m and 1m50, is often compared with the American banjo. In Japan, the shamisen is the guardian of ancient musical traditions, and a reminder of the link between music and culture in the Land of the Rising Sun.