Sho is a Japanese traditional instrument used in Gagaku music.It is a mouth organ which has 17 bamboo pipes. Player blows into a hole in the mouthpiece, which sends the air through bamboo tubes which are similar in design and produce a timbre similar to the pipes in a western organ. It can produce chords as well as single notes. This instrument came from China in 7th Century and kept same style as which was introduced (Chinese ones are developed and changed thorough many centuries. So we have different instrument today). Gagaku music is the Japanese Court music, it performed only in Court and for religious reason before World War II. Also this music was succeeded by only special families before the War. After 1945, Gakaku is opened for people in general and found by western music composers. (C) Sato Naomi All Rights Reserved.