KIWAYA

The ukulele is a 4-stringed instrument born in Hawaii.
Nowadays, it has become a global instrument like the guitar or keyboard.
You can play any kind of music: rock, pops, jazz, classical and more with the ukulele.

There are a variety of playing styles--singing songs, solo and ensemble.
The original sound of ukulele makes you feel relaxed and brings you pleaure and excitement.

KIWAYA is the only specialized ukulele company in Japan.
We produce, merchandise, teach at our music school, share our ukulele museum, and hold a national
ukulele contest every two years.
Our policy is "offering happiness through the ukulele" and we're sure of it coming true!

The body is made of extremely thin laminated Hawaiian koa wood.
Standard size, fretboard is made of rosewood, Gotoh Gold Plated Pegs, 15 fret.
(KS-5 is the overseas version, it is called FS-5 in Japan)

You can check out KIWAYA Ukuleles at Takumi Ukulele Company Website.

KIWAYA Co.,Ltd 1-8-3 Matsugaya, Taitou-ku, Tokyo, 111-0036 JAPAN

Ryouji Okamoto the chairman, KIWAYA

NAMM's Oral History Project was started in June 2000 in an effort to capture
and preserve videotaped interviews of some of the music products industry's
greatest contributors.

NAMM has conducted 1,000 interviews of industry laureates as part of
the organization's Oral History Program. Interview subjects were selected
from the entire breadth of the industry and include instrument designers
and innovators, corporate founders and leading performers whose taste
and purchasing decisions have shaped the public's buying habits.

Ryouji Okamoto, Chairman of KIWAYA Co., Ltd has contributed to the
popularization of the ukulele in Japan for a long time.
He is known as "Uncle Famous"; "Famous" is the name of KIWAYA's
brand of ukuleles in Japan.
It is a great honor to be inducted into NAMM's Oral History Project.

NAMM's Oral History

NAMM's Oral History Project complete list (page34)