Otamatone

English

Various Otamatones being displayed in a store in Japan.

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese オタマトーン (otamatōn, “Otamatone”), from a blend of オタマジャクシ (otamajakushi, “ladle, tadpole”) +‎ トーン (tōn, “tone”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: ō-täʹmä-tōn′, IPA^(key): /əʊˈtɑː.mɑːˌtəʊn/
• (US) enPR: ō-täʹmä-tōn′, IPA^(key): /oʊˈtɑ.mɑˌtoʊn/
• Rhymes: -əʊn

Noun

Otamatone (plural Otamatones)

1. (music, neologism) An electronic musical synthesizer.
   • 2014 March 31, Sarah M. Schlachetzki, Fusing Lab and Gallery: Device Art in Japan and International Nano Art‎^[1], Transcript Verlag, →ISBN, page 35:

     Tosa for example performed on his then newest item, the Otamatone. […] Otamatone is a saxophone-shaped plastic instrument, 27 cm tall, and battery-powered.

   • 2018 May 29, Thuy Org, “This Kirby Otamatone is the musical instrument you need”, in The Verge‎^[2], archived from the original on 2018-03-29:

     The humble Otamatone is a cute (or aggressively annoying... to each their own) instrument that makes digital synthesizer-like noises when you tap or slide your finger along the neck.

   • 2021 April 20, Gregg Behr, Ryan Rydzewski, When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids‎^[3], Hachette Books, →ISBN:

     […] long shelves filled with robot parts, circuit boards, audiovisual equipment, and Otamatones—small, tadpole-shaped synthesizers from Japan.