The irony of York losing his cool points in trying to explain cool was lost on Kubo. That was all right.

"They do sound different," Kubo agreed. "That's why I like trying out music from this time. Not all of it sounds right on the shamisen but it helps me come up with more interesting music."

He held up his instrument as he picked out a tune at a slightly slower tempo than usual, playing a few measures, wondering how the visual was going to help York transpose something from a three-stringed instrument to a six.