The Shamisen is a traditional Japanese instrument that is played with a plectrum. This three-stringed musical instrument is also known by other names such as sangen, samisen, and shamisen-ban. The name Shamisen comes from the word "shami" which means a plain or simple sound, and "sen" which means strings. In Okinawa, the Shamisen is known as the sanshin, which means "three strings." The Shamisen is a versatile instrument that can be used for a variety of musical genres, including folk, classical, and pop music. Synonyms for the Shamisen include Banjo and Guitarra de Japón, which means Japanese guitar in Spanish.