The Nihon Ukulele Association () is a Japanese association for ukulele players. It was founded in 1959 by

Yukihiko Haida was a composer, ukulele player and steel guitarist. He and his brother Katsuhiko Haida founded the Nihon Ukulele Association. Early life and education Haida was born in Honolulu on 24 April 1909, to parents who were Japanese immigrants to Haw ...

, a Hawaiian-born ''

nisei is a Japanese language, Japanese-language term used in countries in North America and South America to specify the nikkeijin, ethnically Japanese children born in the new country to Japanese-born immigrants, or . The , or Second generation imm ...

'' who moved to Japan at a young age. With his brother,

Katsuhiko Haida Katsuhiko Haida (1911–1982) was a Japanese film actor and music composer. He played an important role in the 1951 film '' Tokyo File 212''. He also appeared in ''The Burning Sky'', and ''Escapade From Japan''. His brother is Yukihiko Haida, ...

, Haida formed the Moana Glee Club in 1929, but anti-Western sentiments from Japanese authority ended that association. Following

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Haida met Herb Ohta, an American Marine stationed in Japan, and a serious ukulele player. This discovery affirmed Haida's interest in the ukulele, and influenced him to form the Association.

Sources

*Jim Beloff. ''The Ukulele: A Visual History'' Backbeat Books, 2003. , , page 110.

External links

* {{official, http://e-nua.com/index.html String instrument organizations Ukulele players Cultural organizations based in Japan 1959 establishments in Japan Music organizations based in Japan