maywadenki_information
What is Maywa Denki ?
In 2010, the company newly developed the Voice Mechanics Series. The Otamatone series, in which the concept of the Voice Mechanics Series was put into commercial products, receiving the 2010 Toys Grand Prix, was a big hit at home and abroad, selling 2 million units in total (as of August 2023).
In August 2011, all of the products of Maywa Denki were exhibited at the Transformer Exhibition held in France. In July 2013, the dance performance “ROBOTI” produced by Blanca Lee, a Spanish choreographer, will be held in France, in which musical instruments and costumes of Maywa Denki are used. This will help the company take a step toward its franchise business.
In January 2016, he successfully held his first large-scale exhibition at the museum McaM in Shanghai, China; in March 2019, he opened Maywa Denki Akihabara Store, Maywa Denki’s first official store at Tokyo Radio Department Store in Akihabara.
In 2023, he will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his debut. the same year, he held solo exhibitions at the Kure Municipal Museum of Art and the Sapporo Art Museum.
- April 1967, Born in Hyogo Prefecture
- March 1992, The Department of Arts Study, Postgraduate Course, Tsukuba University, Awarded Master’s Degree
- May 1993 – Mar. 2001, Vice President of Maywa Denki
- April 2001 – present, President of Maywa Denki
WEB
- Official Website https://www.maywadenki.com
- Maywa Denki STORES https://maywadenki-os.stores.jp
PRODUCT
Otamatone series tadpole-shaped electric musical instrument. makes fun sounds when the tail of a tadpole is touched to open and close its mouth.- Hamee Otamatone Website https://hamee.com/collections/otamatone
Sushi-shaped electronic musical instruments. When you press on the top of the sushi, it makes a groovy beat.- SUSHI BEAT (NAMI) ¥4,180
- SUSHI BEAT JOU set ¥6,600
- SUSHI BEAT (NAMI) ¥13,200
A compact fletless bass that uses rubber bands as strings. This type of GumBass has a built-in amp and speaker. Its pickup is designed to produce a pleasant distorted sound by adding a mechanism similar to the “sawari” of a shamisen.
- Gumbass Compact model ￥9,800
- Gumbass Kit ￥2,750
Otamatone Junbo
An unique, solenoid-powered, sound-producing musical instrument character that runs on a 5V USB power supply, so can be powered by a mobile charger. Includes varnish paint for painting.
- Electric Knocman KIt ￥2,750
- Electric Chiririn KIt ￥2,200
- Electric Pololon KIt ￥2,750
- Electric Chan KIt ￥2,750
- Electric Velomin KIt ￥2,750
TSUKUBA Series
Tsukuba Series is MaywaDenki’s original musical device played by physical movement of motors and/or electromagnets at 100V. It is not information, but machine-music materially performed by electric-powered musical instrument.
electric-powered musical instrument.
According to the spread of IT apparatus, such as a sampler, a synthesizer, and a personal computer (internet) these days, music has been separated from “a substance”(=a musical instrument) and is now considered as “information.” These style of enjoying music has changed, and as a result, people talk about music like:”I know such a maniac song,” “I can remix the original song like this,” or “I have a lot of music data.” People are pleased by gathering “information on the music” that can be heard only through the speakers.
Music once used to be in years past and they had to ally forgotten. Tsukuba Series is played by the movement of motors and / or electromagnets at 100V and makes a sound by practically beating/knocking a substance （fig.1). It is a challenge to revive a live music sound withthe power of machines.
Live performance
Live performance Since all of the musical instruments of Maywa Denki are tools or machines, the fun of playing them can be conveyed to the public only through product demonstration, in which how to use them is introduced. We refer to the demonstration as live performance, in which President and workers sing and dance to musical instruments automatically controlled by computers. In addition to electric music instruments, various robots and a character dressing up as President appear in our performances one after another. Currently, our live performances are held not only in Japan but also in Europe, the U.S. and other Asian countries, acquiring a good reputation.
Classification of performances by Maywa Denki: “Matsu(pine)”, “Take(bamboo)” and “Ume(plum)” Courses
“Matsu (pine) Course” Full live performance in which large-size musical instruments,robots,President,four workers and sometimes Mr.Wono at the accounting department appear. (Performance time: 90 to 120 minutes)
Matsu(pine)Course Detail PDF
” Take(bamboo) Course” Performance in which President and two workers appear.You can enjoy a stage show unique to Maywa Denki.(Performance time: 30 to 60 minutes)
Take(Bamboo)Course Detail PDF
“Ume (plum) course “ Performance in which only President plays a live show,using the minimum equipment. (Performance time: 15 to 30 minutes)
Ume(plum)course Detail PDF
“Ume (plum), Take(bamboo), and Matsu (pine)” in photos
Ume (plum)
Take(bamboo)
Matsu (pine)