Mouth organ (sho)

The sho is a kind of mouth organ. It consists of a lacquered wooden cup-shaped body into which seventeen narrow bamboo pipes of varying length, each with a reed inserted in the lower end, are arranged vertically to form a circular cluster. The body serves as a wind chamber. Holding the instrument vertically, the player can produce a series of vibrating ethereal chords by blowing into this chamber through a mouthpiece, and closing certain holes in the pipes.

The wind chamber is decorated with a design of splashing waves.