Kanjuro
Kanjuro is a traditional Japanese musical instrument that belongs to the family of bowed zithers. It is a rare and historically significant instrument, primarily associated with the court music of the Heian period (794–1185) and later used in the *gagaku* ensemble, Japan’s oldest surviving musical tradition. The name *kanjuro* is derived from the combination of *kan* (管, meaning "pipe" or "flute") and *juro* (弦路, meaning "string path"), reflecting its hybrid nature between wind and string instruments.
The kanjuro is a large, fretless instrument with a rectangular body made of wood, typically paulownia or
The kanjuro was particularly favored in imperial court performances, where it was paired with other *gagaku*
Today, the kanjuro is primarily preserved through historical records and occasional performances by specialists in *gagaku*.