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ABOUT THE UKULELE CONTEST

The Millennium Hall, Asakusa, JAPAN
This ukulele contest has been held three times as the "Famous” Ukulele Contest at "Millennium hall" in Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo,JAPAN, produced by KIWAYA Co., Ltd.
This contest is held every two years, and 2007 is the next year to hold this contest.This event has been well known to ukulele fans and musical organizations.

The Ukulele Contest New Symbol MarkKIWAYA would like to keep and develop the ukulele culture in Japan. This year, the contest is, 4th, bi-annual contest. KIWAYA has decided to expand it,so the brand
“Famous” has been dropped the contest name and other organizations cooperating to co-sponsor “The Ukulele Contest”.

Now 30 number organizations are the sponsors & supporters for the ukulele contest.
They are not only Japanese companies but also the overseas organizations:Oahu Visitors Bureau and Ukulele Festival Hawaii.

We are sure that this contest will be powerful and recognized as a premierevent in the ukulele world.
ACTIVITIES OF THE CONTEST WINNERS

KAMATETSU (stagename)
Kamatetsu; the winner of the 1st ukulele contest.
KAMATETSU (Tetsuo Kamatani) is the first winner of the 1st Famous Ukulele Contest in 2002.
His ukulele technique is based on an old ukulele style. (Influenced by Rag-time and Banjo)
He wrote a book about how-to play a unique ukulele style “Zyaka-solo”(it means melody strumming and picking strum in Japanese) in 2005.
CD:More Ukulele Crazy
One of his tunes is recorded on the cd album "More Ukulele Crazy" (Hoku Hoku Reco.)released in 2006.

TAKAFUMI IMAIZUMI
Takafumi Imaizumi;the winner of the 2nd ukulele contest.
Takafumi Imaizumi is the winner of the 2nd Famous Ukulele Contest in 2003.
His ukulele style is very unique and establishes his own ukulele world.His style is not influenced by Hawaiian-music, Jazz, Pops or any other music.
We could rather say, it has the sound of "Progressive Rock" or "Contemporary Music".
One of his tunes is also recorded on the cd album "More Ukulele Crazy" released in 2006.

from left side, Kamatetsu,Imaizumi,Junior,James Hill at the ukulele super jam 2006KAMATETSU and Imaizumi played at the“Ukulele Super Jam 2006”in Tokyo.
They played with James Hill, Herb Ohta Jr, Daniel Ho,Kiyoshi Kobayashi;they are powerful and skillful ukulele professional players.KAMATETSU and Imaizumi have already been recognized as attractive ukulele players.

Shigeto Takahashi : he got the techinique prize at the 2nd ukulele contestSHIGETO TAKAHASHI

Shigeto Takahashi got the technique-prize at the 2nd Famous Ukulele Contest in 2003. His ukulele style is influenced by an old ukulele style of the 1920's.
He joined the New York ukulele festival in 2007.
We can check out his ukulele performance on "You Tube".

CHELSEA(stage name)

Chelsea is a man who got the champion of the 3rd ukulele contest.Chelsea (Kunisuke Mukai) is the winner of the 3rd Famous Ukulele Contest in 2005. His ukulele style is jazz like Ohta-san's style. "Ohta-san" is Herb Ohta; he is a great ukulele virtuoso and Jazz player in Hawaii. Chelsea is a businessman working at a big company in Japan. He sometimes plays the ukulele at some ukulele events or cafes.
The 4th Ukulele Contest 2007
November 23rd (Fri) this day is a national holiday in Japan.
Open: PM 1:00 Start: PM 2:00
Place: "Millennium hall" (capacity:300people)
Adderess:3-25-16 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo.
Admission fee: 2,800yen (advanced ticket) 3,000yen(today's ticket)
The Ukulele Contest Symbol mark (C)Katuyuki Suzuki & The Ukulele Contest Project 2007
(C)The Ukulele Contest Project 2007