Kazune
The Kazune (和音, meaning “Japanese sound”) is a compact, contemporary variant of the traditional koto. Typically constructed with 7 to 13 strings and a shortened body, it was designed with portability and ease of use in mind.
The Kazune features a hollow wooden body, typically made from Paulownia (kiri) wood, prized for its light weight and tonal warmth. Strings are traditionally silk, though many modern versions use nylon or tetron for durability and easy maintenance. Movable bridges (ji) allow for flexible tuning, just like the full-sized koto.
While maintaining the rich, resonant tone of its larger ancestor, the Kazune offers a more accessible and versatile format, allowing modern musicians to explore the world of traditional Japanese music in a more flexible and space-conscious way.
Kontakt Instrument
This instrument is made for the full (paid) version of Kontakt
A free version of this instrument will be available soon for Decent Sampler – a free, cross-platform sampler plugin that works in all major DAWs. If you don’t own Kontakt, don’t worry! The Decent Sampler version will make this instrument accessible to everyone.
You can download Decent Sampler for free at Decent Sampler Plugin
Common Tunings:
Hirajōshi (平調子) – A pentatonic scale used in traditional Japanese music
Kumoi-jōshi (雲井調子) – Another popular scale for expressing melancholy or elegance
Gagaku tuning – Used for court music styles
Players wear finger plectra (tsume) to pluck the strings, allowing expressive glissandos and dynamic control.
About This Instrument
This particular Kazune belongs to Miho’s mother and holds deep sentimental value within our family. For this sample instrument, she personally played every note—an effort that took several hours and was carried out with great care and precision.
The recording took place in her home in Saitama, Japan, nestled in a peaceful area surrounded by rice fields and forest. The natural quiet of the setting helped capture the instrument’s true character without distraction.
The recording was made using the equipment I had available at the time: a Neumann U87Ai and a Neumann TLM 102, both routed through a Sound Devices MicPre 10 II and recorded into Pro Tools. The result is a faithful and intimate representation of this unique instrument’s character.
Product Specs & System Requirements
Instrument Type:
Custom Sample Instrument for Native Instruments Kontakt
Format:
.nki Kontakt Instrument File (in ZIP archive)
Download as a compressed .zip file (41.5 MB)
Extracted size: 42.3 MB
Compatible with Kontakt Full Version 8.6.1 or higher
Not compatible with the free Kontakt Player
Specifications:
Single velocity layer
Stereo audio
System Requirements
Software:
Native Instruments Kontakt Full Version 8.6.1 or later
Not compatible with Kontakt Player (will run in demo mode)
Operating System:
macOS 10.15 or later (Intel or Apple Silicon)
Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
Hardware:
Minimum 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)
At least 42.3 MB of free disk space
Stable internet connection for download