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Sotsugyo Shashin

7/21/2017

I came of age during the singer songwriter era in the early 70s. James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Carole King, Laura Nyro... You get the idea. Matsutoya Yumi (aka Yumin, nee´ Arai Yumi) is a Japanese singer songwriter from the same era. She wrote some incredibly beautiful songs, many of which have been used by Studio Ghibli as soundtracks for its animated moves.

In this video Yoshida Yuri covers Yumin's Sotsugyo Shashin ("Graduation Photo") beautifully. The tune sounds great on the uke and her vocals are spot on. Kind of like Dylan, Yumin isn't always the best singer of her own songs. But like Dylan what she writes is pure poetry. Read an English version here. You can hear the English version here. It's not a direct translation of the Japanese but it's close and maintains the spirit and feeling of the original. As with all translations, there's inevitably something that's lost.

It's a shame that Americans don't listen to foreign music because Yumin would have been a great hit in the US. Visit her YouTube channel and let me know if you agree.

Download words and chords for each version below.

sotsugyuo_shashin.pdf
File Size:	61 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Mobius Strap

7/19/2017

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I recently found a really great strap that allows players of vintage ukuleles to avoid drilling holes in their instruments. It’s the Mobius Strap designed and marketed by Tim Mullins. But before I get to why I think the Mobius Strap is so great, let me drag you along on my journey of discovery.

Genesis:
Like many ukulele players, particularly those in Japan, I’m in love with vintage American ukuleles. I especially like vintage Martins. A few months ago I found a pristine 1950s Martin tenor uke which I have enjoyed playing ever since. Well, almost.

I play mostly finger style and maybe I’m just uncoordinated, but I need a strap. I can't support the uke well enough with my left hand when I’m going up and down the neck switching between chords and notes. Yet my 50’s Martin was so pristine that it didn’t have any strap hardware leftover from a previous owner. That made me the unfortunate one who had to decide whether to deface my beautiful instrument by adding a strap. CRAP!

Before the Fall:
I bought one of those straps which attach to the sound hole but hated it. Not only was the instrument always off balance threatening to fall forward, but the sound hole hook got in the way of my fingers.

Original Sin:
I was just hanging out at the local repair shop looking for a solution, when I took the advice of a respected luthier, bit into the forbidden fruit, and had an ebony end pin put in the lower bout which I could then use with a strap tied at the headstock. The endpin worked perfectly except the necks on those old Martins are quite thin and I swear I could hear a “wow-wow” whenever I applied just a bit of pressure. Now I was really pissed. I’d sinned against my Martin by drilling a hole and I didn’t even enjoy it!

The Paralytic:
Crawling down the road to recovery I made my own sound hole hook using a piece of thin aluminum, expertly bent and wound with black electric tape, then padded with velcro to avoid marring the surface. It looked like a prosthetic brace. All I needed now was for “Marty” to contract polio. I liberated Marty and after a few weeks he began speaking to me again.

Temptation:
I was still upset that I’d added the endpin and was looking for a way to avoid drilling any more holes so I called Martin to see if they recommended adding strap buttons on the heel. NO! Thank Martin. Thank God! (same/same?) I avoided further sin.

Deliverance:
Martin’s “NO!” pushed me to go the extra distance to find what I believe is the perfect solution: The Mobius Strap. No holes are needed. No glue or other adhesives to mar the finish are required. The Mobius strap literally cradles the instrument at the waist and balances it perfectly (Yep, you have to have a waist on your instrument for it to work!). The strap is well made and it's affordable. Learning how to use the strap took a couple of trys but it’s kind of like a bicycle. Once you get it, you’re set for life.

Confession:
As with most things in life once we reach a plateau where needs and wants are at an equilibrium, our needs increase. While I promise to be true to the Mobius Strap, wouldn’t it be great if it came in something other than basic black? Just sayin’ Tim…

Scripture Reading:
Faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest is a perfect ukulele strap.

Head on over to http://www.mobiusstrap.com for an un-hole-ly strap today. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

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Sotsugyo Shashin

Mobius Strap

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