What the Instrument Looks Like:

Soft plastic shell in various colors, shaped like an eighth-note (with an elongated neck and spherical head), with an incision in the base of the note with a mouth and eyes drawn on.

https://shop.r10s.jp/ishibashi/cabinet/other/otamatone.jpg

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Where it Came From:
Developed in Japan by Masamichi and Nobumichi Tosa for the CUBE toy company

Usage and Historical Data:
It is played two-handed, with one hand supporting the instrument and squeezing the head while the other grasps the neck with the index finger and thumb, moving the fingers up and down to control the pitch.

How Old is It:
Developed in 1998 in Japan

Who Invented It/When:
Masamichi and Nobumichi Tosa (Brothers)

How it relates to items already in the database:

Digital (version with piano keys) or Analog (normal version) synthesizer