A generous heartfelt gift to UKC Japan
From the internationally known guitar and ukulele maker, Joji Yoshida
Joji Yoshida is a world-renowned maker of acoustic guitars and ukuleles and studied under a renowned string instrument maker in Canada. He is originally from Yokohama and currently resides in Okinawa, Japan. He is an accomplished musician and loves Hawaiian music, and this background is helpful when creating an instrument.
Joji, a solo custom builder, strives to make one ukulele or guitar each month. He painstakingly constructs the instruments and pays attention to every last detail. Joji chooses the highest quality materials and diligently crafts his instruments. His instruments are highly sought after, and many people are on his waiting list.
In 2017, Joji and five other world-famous ukulele crafters came together and founded “Luthiers for a Cause” (https://www.luthiersforacause.org/). As a group, they made substantial contributions to the Ukulele Kids Club (USA) from the sale of their one of a kind instruments.
In 2019, Joji solely made a beautiful tenor ukulele for Ukulele Kids Club Japan for the children in Japan. The front surface showcased the beautiful symmetrical grain of a Bearclaw Sitka Spruce, and sides are made of African ebony. For the backside, Joji used the most beautiful mahogany wood. This wood from the jungle of Honduras was cut in 1965 and is called “The Tree.” It is highly sought after and very expensive and thus very difficult to obtain. Joji painted and polished these precious woods diligently using a traditional classical French polish method. He used the best materials for all the parts.
The sound of this ukulele is warm and beautiful. You can tell that it embodies Joji’s heart and passion. The ukulele was sold online after its unveiling at a Hawaiian musical instrument tradeshow. A buyer came forward quickly, and Joji donated most of his profits to Ukulele Kids Club Japan.
We wish through Joji’s compassionate gift that the hearts of many sick Japanese children will be touched through the healing power of music and the ukuleles delivered by UKC Japan.
With gratitude,
Ukulele Kids Club Japan
Joji also answered an interview specifically for UKC Japan.
An exclusive Interview with the internationally known guitar and ukulele maker Joji Yoshida
Q. How did you start playing music?
When I was in the seventh grade, I liked Bon Jovi and Van Halen, so I started playing the electric guitar. I never had any formal music training, and I'm self-taught.
Q. Was your family also musical?
Not, really but my mother used to sing songs of "Hibari Misora" (a famous Japanese singer) while doing her household chores.
Q. You graduated from Keio University in Japan. What was your major, and what were your plans after graduation?
My college major was environmental information studies. After World War II, many Japanese universities produced students who were educated only in a narrow range of subjects. To counter this, several Universities offered multi-disciplinary majors such as this one, which is similar to liberal arts degrees in other schools.
As part of my journey, I decided to study Islamic culture and the Arabic language. I had the privilege to study Arabic for two weeks (along with my research group members) at the Aleppo University in Syria.
During school, instead of focusing on my course work, I enjoyed playing in a band, as I couldn't decide on my career path. After graduation, I worked part-time and several temporary jobs. I also worked full-time at a reputable travel agency, but that was not a great fit. My perspective of life then was somewhat narrow-minded and lacked a sense of any specific ambition.
Q. What led you to become a ukulele/guitar hand crafter?
In my mid-thirties, I quit my job and moved out of a rental house and finally became "free." So I attended a Canadian guitar making class that I had always been interested in.
At that time, I didn't have a strong desire to become a crafter. However, after returning to Japan, I made a guitar and then sold it, and then I made another and sold that one. As I kept doing this, I had realized that I had ventured into a new career, and that is how I became a guitar and ukulele maker.
Q. Why did you choose to study with Sergei De Jonge, a Canadian master luthier?
I found the techniques that he used to fashion the wood, and the focus on handcrafting practical instruments was attractive to me. This stood in contrast to other handcrafting styles and teachers who were intent on creating a purer art form. He offered classes to teach a wide range of techniques. Since I was a novice (with no prior woodshop experience), I thought I would be able to follow along.
Q. What was your experience like in Canada and how long were you there?
I learned firsthand many of the difficulties in handcrafting a guitar on my own from scratch. I used to think that sophisticated and complex machinery in a factory setting was required. It was enlightening to learn that a guitar can indeed be hand made by an individual and produce a beautiful and unique sound that stands out from the mass-produced variety. I traveled to Canada and attended two classes in 2010 and 2012 and was there for three months total.
Q. Why do you now reside in Okinawa?
After returning from Canada, I could have lived anywhere in Japan, but Okinawa held a special place in my heart. I visited Okinawa many times in the past and thought it would be a great place to live, so I decided to move permanently in the fall of 2012.
Q. Can you tell us about your visits to Hawaii and the mainland?
My father was a commercial airline pilot who worked for Japan Airlines and was able to visit the USA many times in my youth. However, since I was not educated in the USA, I was not very proficient in English. To improve and attempt to master the English language, I decided to study hard and obtain a first-class certification in English. I even worked as a professional translator.
As I had been playing guitar for many years, I was able to perform in various musical genres in addition to rock. In my mid-twenties, I was invited to play with a Hawaiian band. After that, I was asked to perform at several Hawaiian events. Before I connected to Hawaiian culture through music, I had a preconceived idea that Hawaii was limited to hordes of shopping tourists who were looking only to purchase name brand products. As I didn't like Hawaii then, I decided to travel to the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia instead.
Q. In a photo taken at your studio (above), you're wearing a T-shirt with the phrase LFAC (Luthiers for A Cause). Can you tell us more about that and how you became a member?
Jake Maclay, one of the group's six members, invited me to join the organization. I'd like to say I joined right away as this cause to help children were compelling; however, I needed to think about it over a couple days. I assumed that I wasn't wealthy enough to make a serious donation.
I thought that only rich and famous people could make a difference and help children in this manner. Previously my only philanthropy had been donating about 10 dollars to help earthquake victims in Nepal.
Now I feel fortunate that I've been able to partner with the Ukulele Kids Club, which seems like one of my few good deeds. I am hopeful that several ukuleles from UKC Japan will reach children in Okinawa.
Q. Do you continue to perform at live music in addition to handcrafting guitars and ukuleles?
Before the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, I enjoyed performing live music almost every weekend. However, I now focus on recording and uploading my performances to YouTube for others to enjoy. I'm eager and would love to perform live music again when things settle down.
Q. How can we see your performances?
Here is my YouTube Channel, so please enjoy it.
www.youtube.com/channel/UCQTkL2kX-TFZ3YLY2UEHoAg/videos
To find out more about Luthiers for a Cause
https://www.luthiersforacause.org/
Thank you very much for taking the time for our interview. We wish you excellent health. We look forward to your continued success in creating beautiful ukuleles and guitars for the world. And we hope their warm sounds will deeply touch many people's hearts.
July 2020
with gratitude,
Ukulele Kids Club Japan