Danitrio Biwa Player on Camel Maki-E on Hyotan Fountain Pen100% Genuine Urushi Contains the Maki E Red Seal (Highest Quality of Maki E Art) Hand painted by highly trained Japanese Artisans The biwa is a Japanese string instrument that was said to come to Japan in the 1600s and was believed to be inspired by the pipa instrument originating from China. It was common to see biwa played along with narrative storytelling. In Japanese Buddhism, it was said that the biwa was Benten's (goddess of music) chosen