Japan has long been one of the hot spots of the ukulele culture. This page is about the history of the ukulele in Japan and especially the production of ukuleles in Japan.
My reportage about ukulele dealers in Tokyo-Ochanomizu (2015)
Yamaguchi Iwao plays the Holoholo Rag on a Shimo-Ukulele (2014)
Sweet Hollywaiians: My Girl From The South Sea Isles (2009)
Natoyama Ryō: Way To Go!!~Athlete (2015)
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain in Japan 1994 and 2004
At the end, Maki Shinji has a cameo
In 1885 Suzuki Masakichi began mass production of violins. After major successes in the world market, the company expanded its production on guitars, mandolins, shamisen and finally from 1928 the ukulele. After the war, the company was split at the instigation of the US occupying power. At the Nagoya headquarters Suzuki Violin (often referred to as Nagoya Suzuki Violin) remained, in Nagano Prefecture Kiso Suzuki violin settled. The ukulele production at the headquarters was discontinued in 1971. What is sold today under the name „Suzuki Ukuleles“, are products of the company Suzuki Music founded in 1953 in Hamamatsu.
Okamoto Kitaro originally founded Kiwaya キワヤ to repair gramophones. Since then, however, the company changed under his son Ryōji in the 1950s for instrument making and is today the oldest and most important Japanese ukulele maker. Their ukuleles were aiming at the designs of Martin and Kamaka. Most of their ukuleles are produced in Maebashi by Mitsuba Gakki. Most of their ukuleles are produced by Mitsuba Gakki in Maebashi.