sanshin; Okinawan three-stringed instrument
A traditional Okinawan three-stringed lute, precursor to the shamisen. Often played in folk music and dance.
The sanshin is indispensable for Okinawan folk songs.
He sang an island song while playing the sanshin.
From Chinese 三弦 (sānxián, 'three strings'), introduced to Okinawa and later developed into the shamisen.