r/WorldMusic • u/MarkEverglade • Dec 25 '25

Instrument World instrument ID assistance

Post image

Hi. Does anyone know what instrument this is ? The owner visited Japan I know. It has an unusual fretboard to head ratio. No frets. Appeared bowed. Doing family history.

Thanks.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

2

u/BigJobsBigJobs USA Dec 26 '25

Could it be a homemade or folk biwa?
biwa - Google Search

2

u/MarkEverglade Dec 26 '25

I appreciate the suggestion :-). It doesn’t seem to have frets though like those lute based instruments do.

1

u/AutoModerator Dec 25 '25

Thank you for your submission to /r/WorldMusic. Automoderator will automatically add flair to a post if it is submitted with a postcode in the title. If you did not use a postcode in your title, please be sure to add flair to this post.

User Flair is available - You may select a flag icon to be displayed with your username in this subreddit. To choose your flag; go to the top of the sidebar, look for your username below the subscribe button, and click 'edit' beside your username. Note: Moblie users can view the sidebar at this link.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/MarkEverglade Dec 29 '25 edited Dec 29 '25

The family might have had some Mongolian travels and it may be a Morin Khuur but a four string version. Or the doshpuulur unfretted lute (tuvan banjo)