Ryoji Okamoto

Ryoji Okamoto was the chairman for Kiwaya Corporation in Japan, which was established in 1919 and has since become one of the most important manufacturers of the ukulele. With his keen interest in the instrument, Mr. Okamoto wrote several successful method books and created a popular training school dedicated to the promotion of the ukulele. The company’s brand name, Famous, has been at the forefront of music education programs in Japan for several decades. As the brand name grew over the years Mr. Okamoto provided more and more resources for music education programs as well as the promotion of music making in general.