Save Gender Feminine Usage Japanese Scripts 咲琴, 沙琴, 小鼓音, etc.(Japanese Kanji) Pronounced Pron. SAH-KO-TO [key] Meaning & History From Japanese 咲 (sa) meaning "blossom" combined with 琴 (koto), which refers to a type of musical instrument similar to a harp. Other kanji combinations are also possible.