Thanks to “Carzand” from the Yirmumah forums for linking me to this–

This music is unusual for Japan. The singer and songwriter is Japanese. Her name is Ayano Tsuji. What makes her unusual is the instrument she’s playing. It’s a ukulele. We’d wager that Ayano Tsuji is the first Japanese ukelele player you’ve heard in a while. Let’s listen some more. Here’s Robert Rand and today’s global hit.

Ayano Tsuji says it all began in high school, about ten years ago. She desperately wanted to play the folk guitar but her hands were too small. She couldn’t wrap her fingers around the guitar’s neck. So out of necessity — she downsized: she picked up a ukulele…found that her hands could handle the instrument perfectly…loved the sweet, melancholy sound…and has been playing it ever since.

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