Ancient Japanese musical instruments have taken on a new shine after one group decided to make theirs out of glass, instead of traditional wood. Drums and flutes play a major part in traditional Japanese music, with the “tsuzumi”, an hour-glass shaped drum, often in the lead role. Unveiling a five instrument glass ensemble in Tokyo, the Hari Gonin Bayashi group, established to promote the use of glass in traditional Japanese instruments, played several tunes. The instruments were made by Tokyo-based Hario, a glass maker. It took 13 of the firm's artisans over 19 months and $109,000 to create the five instruments.
