明和電機 Maywa Denki
Artist
Maywa Denki, founded by Nobumichi Tosa, is a Japanese art collective that merges design with performance, known for their humorous and absurd mechanical devices and instruments. Wearing blue work uniforms that symbolize the typical style of small businesses during Japan’s period of rapid economic growth, they showcase their creativity through concerts and exhibitions worldwide. In 2003, Maywa Denki won the Interactive Art Award at the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria, and developed innovative electronic instruments such as the Otamatone, a note-shaped toy that remains popular globally to this day.
In 2021, they successfully held the Maywa Denki Nonsense Factory Exhibition in Beijing, with all exhibits remotely installed. In 2023, as the group celebrates its 30th anniversary, Maywa Denki’s creativity and childlike innocence continue to captivate audiences around the world. Managed by Yoshimoto Kogyo, the group seamlessly combines performances with product sales, continuing to influence the contemporary art and entertainment industries.