Maywa Denki is a failed electronics maker and performance art masterpiece rolled into one. Today consisting solely of Nobumichi Tosa, Maywa Denki was originally founded by his father Sakaichi Tosa, who formed the company after a lengthy stretch drawing plans for seaplanes for a company called Kawanishi Airplane. Maywa Denki in its original form existed as an electronics parts manufacturer from 1969 until 1979. The name was resurrected in 1993 by Tosa's sons Nobumichi and Masamichi, who invented...

Maywa Denki is a failed electronics maker and performance art masterpiece rolled into one. Today consisting solely of Nobumichi Tosa, Maywa Denki was originally founded by his father Sakaichi Tosa, who formed the company after a lengthy stretch drawing plans for seaplanes for a company called Kawanishi Airplane. Maywa Denki in its original form existed as an electronics parts manufacturer from 1969 until 1979. The name was resurrected in 1993 by Tosa's sons Nobumichi and Masamichi, who invented and developed various products, some of them unusual musical instruments. The instruments were generally cleverly designed, often fun and a little kooky. Given the nature of the instruments, seeing the group play was something like observing a Rube Goldberg Creation come to life. Some of their inventions were merely interesting to look at and had little or no practical use at all. The brothers maintain the electronic parts maker shtick by dressing in coveralls over white shirt and tie. Their live performances are largely to show off their instruments, and they themselves call such events "product demonstrations". Maywa Denki have three product lines available at retail: the "Naki" series - nonsense objects done in a fish motif (including the popular fishbone extension chord); "Edelweiss" - arty objects done in a flower motif; and "Tsukuba" - their line of musical instruments. Their onstage musical instruments include one that resembles the mating of a xylophone and a helicopter, a robot rigged to play guitar, and various strange percussion instruments. Maywa Denki made their first album in 1997 for Sony. In 2001 Masamichi Tosa "retired" at the age of 35. Nobumichi continues on diligently as a solo artist. The Maywa Denki toy Knockman became a hit item, and since 2001 some of their goods have been sold internationally. In 2003 Maywa Denki did their first international performance, in Paris. In January 2005 they performed in the States, and later this year have plans to appear in Paris in July, Hong Kong in August, Taiwan in September and again in the States in November. Maywa Denki have also released the albums Sabao De Samba in 2001 and Chikyu No Presento in 2002, and DVDs Naki 26 No Nonsense=Machine and Mechatronica, both released in July 2004. In August 2005 they plan to release a new Tsukuba series DVD.