Photo/Illutration The body of the Takoyaki Guitar features samples of the traditional ball-shaped snack containing bits of octopus. (Daisuke Matsuoka)

OSAKA—An electric guitar with a “takoyaki” (octopus dumpling) cooker for a body was unveiled here to promote the Osaka delicacy.

The presentation was held on Aug. 8, known as the “Day of Takoyaki” in tribute to the eight limbs of an octopus.

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Singer Sae Banjoya plays the Takoyaki Guitar in Osaka on Aug. 8. (Daisuke Matsuoka)

The Takoyaki Guitar was created by gas appliance maker Iwatani Corp. and musical instrument manufacturer Yamano Music Co.

The instrument’s body is about 90 centimeters tall and 23 cm wide and consists of a replicated Iwatani portable takoyaki cooking stove beneath the strings.

When a knob on the body is turned, blue LED lights are turned on to mimic gas flames.

The guitar features re-created samples of the browned ball-shaped snacks with dripping sauce, dried bonito flakes and other details.

“It produced sounds that are soft and round like takoyaki,” Sae Banjoya, an Osaka-native singer, said with a smile after she played the guitar during the presentation.

The Takoyaki Guitar is not for sale, but it is on display at outlets operated by the two companies in the city’s Chuo Ward.

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The tuning pegs on the headstock of the Takoyaki Guitar are also shaped like “takoyaki” (octopus balls). (Daisuke Matsuoka)

It is said that each household in Osaka has one takoyaki cooker.

“We hope the culture of cooking takoyaki at home will spread together with the sound of the guitar,” an Iwatani representative said.

The Takoyaki Guitar is the third local specialty-inspired guitar created by Yamano Music.

The company earlier introduced electric guitars themed on gyoza dumplings from Utsunomiya and “kamaboko” roasted fish cake shaped like a bamboo leaf from Sendai.

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