By YOSHIO SO/ Staff Writer
December 20, 2025 at 07:00 JST
Junichiro Taku claims that he can hit the right note using ordinary, everyday items, including edible things.
“Anything can be an instrument, as long as it has a hole or a hollow,” the 44-year-old flutist said.
Indeed, Taku's quirky performances using makeshift instruments have become a viral sensation.
Among kendama toys, spoons and drinking glasses, his most famous unconventional instrument is the chikuwa–a tube‑shaped fish cake.
By pressing and narrowing the chikuwa’s hole with his fingers, Taku alters the pitch to produce surprisingly clear tones. He even recommends a particular brand, Kibun Foods Inc.’s Takebue, praising its smooth interior for delivering a pure sound.
His unique artistry has reached prestigious stages before discerning audiences. At Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, he once performed with a full orchestra using a 60‑yen (40 cents) chikuwa.
“I felt almost guilty,” he laughed. “The violins behind me cost millions and here I was with a fish cake.”
Raised in public housing and without formal mentorship from renowned musicians, Taku honed his skills by listening obsessively to recordings of masters before entering the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts.
Today, he performs with orchestras and his own flute trio, records for films and TV dramas, and composes music. He is also recognized for his research into extended flute techniques and traditional wind instruments around the world.
During the COVID‑19 pandemic, which hit the music industry hard, Taku questioned campaigns to “protect classical music,” finding them pompous and self‑important.
“Why not protect hard rock, too?” he asked.
Believing that people needed humor to dispel anxiety, he uploaded his chikuwa performances, which quickly gained popularity.
His playful spirit dates to the third grade in elementary school, when he entertained classmates by performing Dragon Quest background music and sound effects on the recorder.
That mischievous streak still drives him.
“I want to keep doing things that don’t fit the mold,” Taku said.
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Musician Junichiro Taku plays melodies on unconventional objects such as food items and toys. (Yoshio So)
