The shamisen "three strings scented" is a traditional plucked string instrument used in Japanese music. It is a long-necked lute with a smooth touch. The shamisen is derived from a Chinese instrument, the sanxian, which was introduced into the island of Okinawa in the mid-sixteenth century and adapted very quickly to the music of the court of Ryukyu. At the beginning of the Edo period (1603-1868) that appeared  the other islands of the Japanese archipelago. The shamisen is a lute measuring 100 to 140 cm, the square box resonance is traditionally built sandalwood and covered with skin cat or dog. With the exception of shamisen Okinawa traditionally covered with snakeskin and is called sanshin or jabisen. The table at the fact that skin shamisen sometimes gives the name "Japanese banjo". The neck is long and thin, without frets. It has three strings (hence the name of the instrument, which literally means "Three flavor strings") of silk or nylon.