We have various kinds of traditional music created from time immemorial in each culture area and they have been passed down generation by generation.
Ko-uta - literally short song - is one of Japanese traditional lyric song passed down through oral tradition since mid Edo period. Ko-uta must create a certain atmosphere in few words, so they tend to be dense in the sense that many images may be evoked with well-chosen phrases. So that it is sometimes likened to Haiku or Tanka because of its pithiness.

　There are two grouping of Japanese traditional song accompanied by Shamisen (a fretless, long-necked, three-stringed instrument), Utaimono (lyrical shamisen music) and Katarimono (narrative shamisen music, ex; Tokiwazu and Kiyomoto) and Ko-uta is classified into Utaimono group like Naga-uta (long song). Most Ko-uta may be sung in less than minute, even longer ones taking three to four minutes at most. Ko-uta has been improvised by Katarimono player out of mere caprice and its theme has picked from many sources ranging from refined aestheticism to earthy humor and expresses the sentiments and/or romantic atmosphere of sophisticated Edo city dwellers. In singing Ko-uta, voice and instrument take two separate threads of sound and interval, weaving them together like a duet. The shamisen gives a note of a phrase, leading voice music part, and it is the complicated timing and skillful juxtaposition of shamisen and voice which is appreciated.

　History of short lyric Utaimono song goes back to Heian era, more than 1000 years ago. Then the roots of Ko-uta, Kyogen Ko-uta was born in Muromachi era which was 500-600 years ago and Ryutatsu-bushi was created in the beginning of Edo era. In mid Edo era, popular lyrics or folk songs started to sing accompanied by Shamisen, the original form of which was imported in Japan around 16th century, in Western Region - Kyoto to Osaka area - and those songs were gradually came down to Edo city. By late Edo era, those western rooted songs and folk songs ware all called Ha-uta and became very popular in Edo city. Then some Ha-uta songs were sung in tasteful slower tempo with grace and this way of sing Ha-uta was named Uta-zawa and became very popular among people of well-cultivated tastes. Little after Uta-zawa was born, there was another trend to sing Ha-uta in crispy tempo with refinement and this type of song became Edo Ko-uta, prototype of Ko-uta now we sing. Ko-uta was affected by Western Ha-uta taste at first. But later, a genius girl Oyou arranged a Tanka for the Ko-uta and this song Chiru wa Uki was recognized as the first original Edo Ko-uta. Since then, original Edo Ko-uta was gradually created by her, her husband Kiyomoto Enjudayu the fourth and other member of Kiyomoto group and the musical form Ko-uta as we hear it now was set. Then, Edo Ko-uta attained great popularity overshadowing Ha-uta and Uta-zawa styles as time goes and more songs has been created by new sources like Tokiwazu, Naga-uta, and other traditional Japanese music player since.