I’ve noticed that little ones are like curious sponges. My granddaughter loves her little musical instruments. She can bang and play with them, discovering how they make sounds. I recently found another instrument, a little more techy, that she really enjoys playing with. The Otamatone from Hamee is unique, cute, and sounds like nothing I’ve ever played.
About Hamee
Hamee is founded in 1997 as Strapya Next Co. Ltd., in Japan. Hamee has become known worldwide for its selection of collectable toys, cell phone accessories, and gadgets. Hamee now operates global headquarter in Korea, branch in Shanghai, and here in the United States.
At Hamee US Corp, we are more than just a company – we are creator of happiness, fun and uniqueness. Our commitment is to introduce Japanese and Korean trends to the world, add a dash of excitement to your life, and provide you with products that resonate with your distinctive taste.
What is an Otamatone?
Developed by a design firm and released in 2009, the Otamatone is a fun-to-play electronic musical toy. It has an 8th note shape, a moving mouth (that also changes the sound that comes out), and it makes a kind of buzzing and off-key sound.
This sounds a little weird, but to be honest, it’s pretty fun. I was intrigued when I found Hamee and their Otamatones and couldn’t wait to try them. We have two different ones, a full-size, deluxe Sanrio Otamatone and a regular-size “Lucky Cat” Otamatone.
Lucky Cat
This special edition Otamatone is the Japanese Lucky Cat. It’s Hatsune Miku (a virtual celebrity) crossed with a silly and fun musical instrument. Lucky Cat is great for kids of all ages (including adults).
It’s a small Otamatone that, when played, has a higher-pitched sound. It runs on 3 triple-A batteries and as with all Otamatone’s there are multiple ways to make sounds with it.
- Single Notes can be played by pressing the stem (squeeze between two fingers).
- Slide Technique (our personal favorite) – slide your fingers up and down the stem to transition from low to high or high to low notes.
- WAH Effect can be achieved by squeezing the “cheeks” open and closed as you press notes or as you use the slide technique.
- The Vibrato Technique can be played by shaking the “stem” of the instrument while pressing notes. This produces a Vibrato.
You can play it in a low, medium, or high pitch. This edition comes with a piece of sheet music that allows you to start playing right away.
Sanrio Otamatone Deluxe (Gudetama)
Yes, there is a special deluxe edition of Guadetama. Hamee has crafted a Deluxe Otatmatone designed around the lazy egg Guadetama. The Sanrio Otamatone Deluxe is so super cute with its yellow, black, and white coloring. The Deluxe version has the hookup for headphones, amps, and speakers. Grab 3 triple A batteries and you’re good to start playing. The one I received also had a special edition Gadetama lanyard included.
This deluxe Otamatone is played just like the regular version, including the options for high, medium, or low sound frequency.
My Thoughts
If you’ve got an occasion that requires you to give a gift, I seriously recommend an Otamatone from Hamee. There are so many colors, sizes, and character options. Not only are they fun, they will be a conversation starter with all of your friends. No matter their age, everyone who sees it will inevitably want to “try” it. My granddaughter is only 2, my kids are in their early 20’s and my husband is almost 50. They all play with them, trying to come up with the most unique sounds. It’s a 10 out of 10 for me!
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