The World Heritage Shrines and Temples of Nikko are worshipped as sacred places in Tochigi prefecture where I’m from. I used 400-year-old cedar which came from the woods behind the Nikko Toshogu shrine for the top on this ukulele.
Nikko Toshogu was established in 1617 to enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate and also started Edo period. I also used “Namiki” cedar on the side and back of the body. Namiki cedar is from our histological Avenue of Cedars in Nikko. Some fallen trees have been distributed as a precious wood called “Namiki” cedar.
Cedar is very familiar to the Japanese, and its grain is a pure expression of “Japan”. The ukulele label is made of 1200-year-old handmade Japanese paper. "Wasura" is a word that in the Tochigi dialect means "mischief" with the nuance "play". While I was searching the woods for my ukulele material, I met a craftsman who mentioned his work as “te (hand)- wasura”. His words demonstrate humility in his work. I felt his humility as he told me about it. He expresses his work as “playfulness” or “mischief”. I see Japanese craftsman’s temperament in these words. His work is not only a "job” but also his way of life, and his ultimate hobby. Therefore, I named my ukulele "Wasura"
- Top: Nikko Cedar
- Back and Sides: Nikko "Namiki" Cedar
- Neck: Japanese Cedar with Walnut spline
- Fingerboard and Bridge : Kokutan (Ebony)
- Label: Karasuyama-washi(Japanese handmade paper)
- Tuner : Gotoh UPT
- Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
- Scale Length: 15" concert scale
- Body Size: close to soprano
- Lower bout: about 145mm wide
Softcase included