Q-pot's Peace of Chocolate Ukulele Necklace is $140. The Peace of Chocolate Ukulele Brooch is $95. (Star-Advertiser photo by Nadine Kam)
BY NADINE KAM / nkam@staradvertiser.com
In a fund-raising collaboration, Q-pot’s Japan-based designer Tadaaki Wakamatsu teamed up with Honolulu musician Jake Shimabukuro in coming up with an ukulele design for the sixth annual Toro-ri Ribbon Project.
The two creative artists met during the Toro-ri Ribbon Project Vol. 3, in early 2011. During an interview in Waikiki this week, Wakamatsu said he and Shimabukuro formed an instant friendship. He said it’s not difficult to see why his countrymen are infatuated with Jake.
Tadaaki Wakamatsu. (Star-Advertiser photo by Nadine Kam)
“Even though he doesn’t speak much Japanese, his voice, his spirit, his music is how he communicates. It’s like a universal language,” he said. “Jake has the same love for art, peace and love, and music is how he spreads that message. There’s something special about his music.”
Wakamatsu bought a ukulele from Shimabukuro’s brother Bruce at the Sheraton Waikiki, and Jake taught him how to play a few notes on the ukulele. Wakamatsu’s only other musical experience was playing the flute in school. They reunited later that summer when Shimabukuro performed in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami there, and came up with the idea of the “Ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro × Q-pot” collaboration accessory.
They both share a love of chocolate and music, so it was natural for them to take the ukulele (Jake’s symbol) and chocolate (Q-pot’s signature), and meld them together. The ukulele jewelry is designed to look like chocolate, with wood from the Tohoku region, which bore the brunt of the natural disasters.
A portion of the sales from the collection will be donated to the Rainbow for Japan Kids Project, a charity program launched by Hawaii volunteers, through the Miyagi Bikki Organization’s Bikki Children’s Fund. Donations will be fund two-week educational and cultural exploration trips to Hawaii for child victims of the 2011 Japan Earthquake, who lost friends and family.
Sales in Japan will start Aug. 9 via Q-pot’s online shop and on Jake’s Japan online shop. Sales in Japan stores will launch in Q-pot’s Harajuku flagship shop starting Sept. 15. Pieces will also be available at each venue on Jake’s 2012 Japan tour, which starts Sept. 15.
Q-Pot fans can meet the designer when he appears at the Ala Moana Center store from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 29. He’ll bring 15 pieces each of two exclusive items, a Very Berry Cupcake cell-phone strap ordinarily only available online in Japan, and a Petit Strawberry Cake strap only available at the Harajuku store. Purchases are limited to one per style, per person.
Customers who make a purchase of $80 or more that day will receive a Tranoi tote bag from the “Tranoi” fashion exhibit in Paris, while supplies last. (Limited to one per person.)