# Otamatone

The Otamatone (Japanese: オタマトーン, Hepburn: Otamatōn) is an electronic musical synthesizer. Shaped like an eighth note, the ribbon controller on its stem is used to control pitch, while the notes produced by the synthesizer are played from the Otamatone's "head". It was developed in Japan by the CUBE Works toy company and the Maywa Denki design firm, led by the brothers Masamichi and Novmichi Tosa, and is produced and marketed by Hamee [ja].

## Description

The Otamatone is a synthesizer, the body of which is shaped like an eighth note (quaver) (it also somewhat resembles a tadpole, or a ladle, otamajakushi (お玉杓子 / おたまじゃくし) being Japanese for tadpole and ladle), with sound emerging from a "mouth" on the notehead. It requires two hands to play: while one hand holds and squeezes the "head", the other hand controls the pitch of the tune by placing the finger on a ribbon controller on the stem; a higher position on the stem creates a lower sound.
The ribbon controller is logarithmic to resemble a string instrument, there is a shorter distance between higher notes than between lower ones. Varying the pressure on the head (thereby opening and closing the "mouth" of the Otamatone) creates a wah-wah effect, and shaking the neck (and thereby slightly changing pressure on the head and ribbon) creates a vibrato effect. Switches on the back of the head allow users to change octave, turn it off or on, or change the volume.
The structure on top of the Otamatone's stem is called the tail.
The sound made by this instrument can be compared to the sound of a theremin or jinghu.

## Variations
### Hamee models

There are various models of Otamatone. The three models produced and marketed by Hamee are:
* The Otamatone, or Otamatone Standard, the original model;
* The Otamatone Melody, a smaller Otamatone that can be held on a keychain, which replaces the ribbon controller with a single push-button and can only play a pre-programmed series of pitches in the tapped rhythm;
* The Otamatone Deluxe, a larger Otamatone with a longer ribbon controller which allows greater note precision and an output jack allowing an amplifier or effects to be connected.
Some Otamatones have designs based on popular Japan-based characters, like Kirby or Hello Kitty.

### Maywadenki models

There are also a number of models of Otamatone produced only by Maywadenki themselves, either prior to the transfer of production to Hamee or not part of it,These are sold only in Japan.:
* The Otamatone Digital, which replaces the ribbon controller with a small musical keyboard and supports multiple sounds on-board;
* The Otamatone Neo and Otamatone Techno, which resemble the Otamatone Standard and Otamatone Deluxe respectively but add an "OTM link" connector. This allows the Otamatone's onboard synthesis to be replaced by a smartphone app connected via an audio jack, thus allowing different voices and accompaniments to be played. Although the app remains available internationally, a wireless audio jack adapter would now be required.
* The Otamatone Jumbo, which has the feature set of the Otamatone Deluxe but is the length of a full-size guitar, intended to be played side-slung and incorporating a grip used to squeeze the head. Originally produced as a marketing device, it is now available for purchase internationally directly from Maywadenki, individually handmade at a price around $2000.

## Reception

The instrument has gained significant popularity online, especially on YouTube and TikTok. It is often used to create cover songs, with channels such as TheRealSullyG and mklachu gaining popularity primarily from the use of the instrument. The Otamatone has also been used by musicians such as the Swedish heavy-metal guitarist Ola Englund.
On February 3, 2021, Juanjo Monserrat performed "Nessun Dorma" on the original Otamatone on the auditions for the sixth season of Got Talent España and won the Golden Buzzer award after two of the judges tried playing the instrument themselves.