Paulownia tomentosa
As with other , the Paulownia wood used for the instruments' body ("Paulownia tomentosa", known as in Japanese) is molded and treated. The bridges of the , known as , are often made of plastic in the modern day, and can be found in both small and large sizes. These bridges are rearranged as needed during playing, and are arranged according to the particular tuning used. Strings are traditionally made from silk threads, although plastic nylon strings are often used as a cheaper alternative.