The influence of Western pop music has made the less prominent in Japan, although it is still developing as an instrument. The 17-string bass koto () has become more prominent over the years since its development by Michio Miyagi. There are also 20-, 21-, and 25-string . Works are being written for 20- and 25-string and 17-string bass . Reiko Obata has also made the accessible to Western music readers with the publication of two books for solo using Western notation. The current generation of players, such as American performers Reiko Obata and Miya Masaoka, Japanese master Kazue Sawai, and Michiyo Yagi, are finding places for the in today's jazz, experimental music and even pop music. The members of the band Rin' are popular 17-string players in the modern music scene.