The Glowing Sumo Ukulele

You may have noticed that during my fourth year at the ESP Guitar Craft Academy in Tokyo, I worked on several electric ukuleles. One of them is an 8-string tenor ukulele with LEDs, featuring Rikishi (Sumo wrestlers) during their training sessions and a Hawaiian theme. Glowing hibiscus flowers adorn the body, while the fretboard showcases Sumo and Hawaiian motifs as position markers.

My fascination with Sumo began when I was around 12 years old. It must have been one of the final tournaments of a Hawaiian Rikishi who won three championships but narrowly missed promotion to the highest Sumo rank—Yokozuna. However, this Hawaiian Rikishi was more than just an athlete. He is also a highly talented artist and an ukulele player. He continuously engages in projects to support children, promote the true spirit of Sumo worldwide, and assist students researching Sumo. Above all, he is an incredibly kind and humble soul. When I wrote my master’s thesis on Sumo, he generously took the time to answer my questions despite his busy schedule.

So, this ukulele is dedicated to him. May it shine as brightly as the sun alongside him!

Yesterday, I stained the front and later sprayed the back. Next week, I’ll apply the topcoat and, hopefully, get to buffing it at school before the semester ends. I can handle all the other tasks at home, but I don’t have a large buffing machine in our two-room apartment here in Yokohama. Yes, I still need a workshop not too far from home so I can pursue my career as a full-time artist—limited only by my own skills and knowledge. The last phase of construction is also the time you must not make mistakes.

Testing the LEDs

Scratches or other mess-ups can always be repaired though, it is much more difficult the further you get along in the process. So wish me luck! (^-^)v

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