In Japan, it sometimes refers to a rustic bamboo yokobue (shinobue) produced by an amateur (as is the case for the use of the "kusa" prefix in kusayakyu [sandlot baseball] or kusakeiba [local horse race]).
また、日本では素人作りの田舎じみた竹の横笛（篠笛）を指す場合がある（草競馬、草野球などと同様の用法）。