Miho Akita from the Sony Group Creative Center gets straight to the point. "Simply put, we're creating a world where anyone can enjoy making music." She's one of the designers behind the Hug Drum, the light-and-sound instruments featured at the STREET YURU MUSIC event.

"So many people want to play an instrument, but think it looks too hard, or they're afraid of making mistakes. They end up believing they're just 'not musical,'" said Miho. "The World Yuru Music Association was established to tackle this problem, and when Sony Group Creative Center heard about their mission, it resonated deeply. So, we joined the project, developing Yuru Instruments and organizing events. I genuinely believe music should belong to everyone, not just for a select few."

What exactly makes these "Yuru Instruments" special?

"They are prototypes built on a simple philosophy: 'Great if you can master it, fun even if you can't.' Anyone can pick one up and immediately make music, no special skills or experience required. But like traditional instruments, you can still improve with practice. That combination makes them so unique."

Akita emphasizes the fact that "anyone" truly means *anyone*.

"We use inclusive design methods, understanding and embracing diverse users to gain new insights and knowledge as we design together. This helps us make the instruments accessible to literally 'anyone.' For example, people with hearing disabilities joined as lead users, while professional musicians served as mentors. The development of the Yuru Instruments progressed through the diverse perspectives everyone brought to the table."

Though it sounds straightforward, the path to completion was extremely challenging. The team obsessed over the tiniest details, such as subtle differences in the drum's vibration and the exact way it lights up. Through it all, the instrument designers never wavered from their mission to eliminate barriers and make the instruments accessible to all.

"When we unveiled the Yuru Instruments at the event, seeing people's eyes light up and their families and friends beaming with joy drove home to me that instruments aren't just for the player - they create joy for everyone around them," said Miho.

As Akita says, instruments can transform any space into an environment where everyone can participate and enjoy music. That's why the team from Sony has been showcasing Yuru Instruments at various events, leading up to STREET YURU MUSIC at Ginza Sony Park.

Their collaborators? Salsa Gumtape, a rock band with many members who are disabled. Band leader and musician Tetsu Kashiwa explains why they joined forces: "What we are trying to do, the world we are aiming for, it's similar. No borders, no walls. I've always believed music should be something you can share if you've got the passion for it. When I first heard about the Yuru Instruments initiative, I thought it aligned with the kind of world that we are aiming for. We want to break down the invisible barriers created by the presence or absence of disabilities and make music truly open for everyone."

"The Hug Drums are particularly great. Just a light touch produces sounds and light, so even people with limited strength or limb mobility can join in. I was curious to see what would happen when we combined the Yuru Instruments with our usual bucket-and-packing-tape drums. Plus, our song 'oh! hug hug' is all about how COVID pushed us apart and how we lost that basic human connection of hugging. We want to change that and bring back the importance of meeting and connecting with people again. A street performance felt like the perfect way to create those connections."

The day of STREET YURU MUSIC finally arrived. Band members, eager to share the joy of playing instruments and the emotion of sharing music with everyone, gathered together.

"I didn't realize that music could be this free," said one passerby who got pulled into the performance. "As long as you want to do it, you can enjoy it. It was incredibly refreshing."

"I'm no musician, but everyone - the band, the crowd - they all made it so easy for me to join in. The Yuru Instruments were unlike anything I'd ever seen. As I played, I felt like I was merging with the sound, becoming a part of the music itself."

Kids were buzzing with excitement: "It was so cool, just tap it lightly and BOOM, this huge sound!" "Playing with everyone was amazing!" "Can we do it again?"

Even visitors from France chimed in: "We couldn't communicate with words, but we connected through music. What a wonderful experience."

Tetsuya Kajiwara, Salsa Gumtape's drummer, felt the same connection. "Kids as young as one year old, the performers, the audience, we all created one piece of music together."

"I wondered how a digital instrument like the Hug Drum would sound, but with everyone so close together, we achieved real unity. It was a huge success. Music is life energy itself. This performance rekindled my hope that music will continue to evolve so that everyone - kids, people with disabilities, or people who struggle with traditional instruments - can release that energy."

Salsa Gumtape members Yoshiki Nishizuka and Yume Kuriyama played massive tape drums whose dynamic tones reverberated throughout the venue. "It was really fun!" they reported, smiling. Kuriyama went on to say, "Music is amazing. I was a little nervous at first, but from the middle of the performance onwards, I was having a really good time with everybody."

Julia Shirabe, a Sony employee who's deaf and performs classical piano, participated as a performer at STREET YURU MUSIC. She was moved by the freedom to make mistakes.

"Even when someone lost the rhythm or missed timing, nobody frowned. Classical music always feels like pursuing perfect, beautiful sounds. This was more about connecting with people. Yet it still created wonderful music that really moved me. I was anxious about losing rhythm because of my hearing disability, but the Hug Drum's vibration carried everyone's sounds to me, and the other members gave such enthusiastic visual cues. The event showed that there's support out there for people who are deaf or hard of hearing."

The Yuru Instruments have brought us closer to a future where anyone can enjoy music, anytime and anywhere. Designer Miho Akita explains her vision: "I don't just want to make instruments; I want to create a whole atmosphere."

"People can only overcome their fear of playing instruments and find joy when the atmosphere is right. When you see others around you smiling as they play, when you become part of that community, that's when you truly experience music's joy. And by sharing music, we create connections with those around us, caring for one another. That's the kind of future I'm working toward through the Yuru Instruments."

Salsa Gumtape's leader, Tetsu Kashiwa, shares Miho's vision of opening new frontiers in music.

"I want to create a future where everyone enjoys music, regardless of their ability. These activities show me it's not just a fantasy. We can actually achieve it. We can shift from a society focused on limitations— 'I can only move my legs'—to one that celebrates inclusion and endless possibilities—'I CAN move my legs, so let's make music together with Yuru Instruments.' I want us all to work together toward this dream."

The instruments' creators, the performers, the project promoters—everyone shares this vision of "Music for All." That message continues to resonate, spreading outward in waves. Perhaps music holds more power to move hearts and connect people than we ever realized. The Yuru Instruments initiative will continue to evolve, chasing that beautiful possibility.