Japanese pearl tambourine, Den-den daiko

The den-den daiko (で ん で ん 太 鼓) is a Japanese pearl tambourine that became popular in the movie The Karate Kid Part II1. Although the word drum is attached to it, the instrument is rarely used as such. Rather, it is a rattle intended for small children to appease them. It has two sides and it hangs from a rod. On each side of the drum body, beads are hung from cords. Alternately turning the handle at high speed, the beads hit the membrane of the drum and make a sound. It is modeled as a "drum" which is used in Gagaku, the beads hit the membranes which make a sound. The instrument is listed in the family of "drums" because it is used in gagaku (雅 楽, literally refined, elegant music).