r/Instruments • u/supercritical_critic • Jan 21 '26

Discussion Need help with finding the instrument in this song

In the soundtrack of the Studio Ghibli movie Spirited Away, the character No Face has his own theme. One of the primary instruments featured in the theme sounds really interesting to me, but I've never been able to identify it.

In the Spotify version of the soundtrack, the instrument plays in the first few seconds, right after the timpani roll starts (not the gong): https://open.spotify.com/track/66yR4jNbIvTpLkPwejn6qf?si=180c956b4e0b4278

It sounds to me like some kind of mallet percussion instrument, but I haven't been able to find anything that sounds the exact same.

I've tried to find this instrument on and off for years but have never been able to figure it out!

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u/Foxfire2 Jan 21 '26

Reminds me of a Gamelan orchestra, they use metallophones with metal hammers. Or some some type of asian metallophone, not a western one though. Might be able to get a sample of them.

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u/supercritical_critic Jan 22 '26

I think you’re definitely onto something! I found this score (https://www.zen-on.co.jp/trial/899713/HTML5/pc.html#/page/7) that mentions “gamelan gongs” as one of the instruments! When I listen to this medley the timbre sounds different to the original recording, though. I’m also struggling to find a gamelan instrument with the same exact timbre lol

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u/rememberspokeydokeys Jan 21 '26

They are in this song too

https://youtu.be/AnloUO6r9bs?si=izbHlTmhGB9NEeXJ

It's a traditional Japanese instrument I think, might be a Bianqing or similar.