Bizarre biwa instrument

The Japanese biwa is a lute derived from the Chinese pipa and earlier Asian lutes.  The Japanese film Kwaidan, based on Lafcadio Hearn’s book about ghosts, includes a story about Hoichi, the blind biwa player.  Traditionally,  biwa  music centers on the Tale of the Heike, a clan war of ancient times.  

Very eerie vocalization to be sure.

Here even a gaijin (foreigner) gets in on the action.

Here is the Chinese pipa instrument that preceded the biwa.