Meet the YouTuber who's been making musical instruments out of produce for 11 years

'Lightly Row' on a carrot is the new song of the summer.
 By 
Chloe Bryan
 on 

Anything can be a musical instrument if you try hard and believe in yourself.

Case in point: Junji Koyama, a prolific YouTuber and elementary school teacher who has been making flutes and horns out of produce -- yes, fruits and vegetables -- for over 11 years. Koyama records himself playing a song on each of his instruments, which range from carrots to radishes to, in one case, a dandelion stem.

They all sound great, because he is a genius.

Below, for example, is an ocarina made from a carrot (with leaves). "Lightly Row" has never sounded better, including when you played it at your third grade recorder concert.

If you seek a more religious experience, here is "Amazing Grace," which Koyama plays on a slide whistle made from a cabbage.

And who can forget the fruit? Please enjoy "Mary Had A Little Lamb," on an orange ocarina, as well as another rendition of "Lightly Row" (song of the summer!) on an adorable papaya melon.

Occasionally, Koyama ventures outside the realm of produce. Once, for example, he made an ocarina out of a tube of toothpaste, and in 2009, he provided the internet with a vital how-to on making an egg flute.

But fruit and veg are his bread and butter -- and thank god, because these videos make me want to eat more carrots and learn how to play an instrument. A self-improvement miracle!

Topics Music YouTube

Mashable Image
Chloe Bryan

Chloe was the shopping editor at Mashable. She was also previously a culture reporter. You can follow her on Twitter at @chloebryan.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra torn apart by YouTuber. This is what he found.
still image of jerryrigeverything breaking down s25 ultra

YouTuber claims he bought a Galaxy S26 early: Everything revealed
Man holding an alleged Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra phone

CES 2026: Meet Ami, the AI soulmate for the lonely remote worker
Holodeck of 3D-generated woman in a small tublar object.

'The Testament of Ann Lee' review: Amanda Seyfried astounds in stirring, religious biopic
Amanda Seyfried stars in "The Testament of Ann Lee."

More in Life

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!