Shamisen began to be made in a form close to its current one around the 1500s. In the Edo period, it spread to the general public and established itself as a representative instrument in Japanese music such as Nagauta and Gidayu. Tokyo shamisen are characterized by the fact that a single craftsman is responsible for the entire process from the making to the finishing touches, and the instrument is made to suit each individual, taking into consideration the player's ability from the selection of materials. Currently, there are efforts to regenerate old shamisen and provide them to beginners at low cost.