The gonin-bayashi represent five musicians for playing the percussion ensemble for the Noh drama), respectively: their parts are the taiko (stick drum), the okawa (slide hand drum), the kotsuzumi (shoulder drum), the fue (Japanese flute), and the utai (chant) (in some cases, five or seven ancient court musicians are displayed in place of the Noh hayashi musicians.)
五人囃子は能の囃子を奏でる5人の楽人をあらわし、それぞれ「太鼓」「大皮」「小鼓」「笛」「謡」である（能囃子の代わりに5人、又は7人の雅楽の楽人の場合もある）