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Industry Topics
August 09, 2021 10:10 AM
Introducing Musical Instrument Certificate for Cross-border Touring Musicians
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry introduced Musical Instrument Certificate which reflects the resolutions of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on July 1. It’s expected to help cross-border touring musicians especially those players of Japanese traditional musical instruments using ivory and tortoise shell for plectrum and bridge. ...
July 12, 2021 03:17 PM
Japan Musical Instruments Association (JMIA) Special Online Seminar: Takuya Nakata, Chairman and Jyun’ichi Miki, Director Talk on Future of the Industry
JMIA held the 2021 annual meeting online on June 7. It was followed by an online special seminar, “Future of the Music Products Industry” inviting Takuya Nakata, chairman and president of Yamaha Corporation, and Jyun’ichi Miki, director and president of Roland Corporation. They talked on wide spectrum of topics from the pandemic to future activities of the association. Here are excerpts of the seminar. MC: Masato Oshiki, manager of general affairs and president of Yamaha Music Japan Co., Ltd. ...
July 12, 2021 11:09 AM
Yamano Gakki Sets Off Free Instore Music Experience Section
One of the leading music retail chains, Yamano Gakki has launched free music experience section at its outlets. First opened last December at Aeon Shopping mall in Ageo, Saitama-ken, the chain now operates it at 3 mall locations. Individual music experience section shares about 15 square meter space outfitted with a guitar, ukulele, violin, and saxophone offered for free experience as well as a sofa and a low table. Visitors are encouraged to try any instruments provided there which are rental g...
June 19, 2021 11:04 AM
Masayuki Iishi, Pearl CEO Talks On 75th Anniversary
Pearl Musical Instruments Co., Ltd., percussion and flute specialist manufacturer celebrates 75th anniversary this year. Japan Music Trades interviewed Masayuki Iishi, who assumed the CEO position of the company in this last January.
Born in Kyoto in 1971, Iishi joined Pearl in 1995. After served several key positions including president of Pearl Distribution Company in Holland, and director and managing director of Pearl headquarters in Japan, he was appointed to director in 2012, then to manag...
June 18, 2021 09:51 PM
Aoyama Harp Moved Tokyo Sales Office & Showroom
Aoyama Harp Company moved Tokyo sales office and showroom from Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, to Nibancho, Chiyodaku, and resumed operation on May 6.
Japan’s exclusive harp specialist manufacturer based in Fukui-ken, Aoyama Harp has launched the 1st Tokyo sales office and showroom in Shibuya-ku to serve customers in Northern Japan area distributing harps, strings, harp-related accessories and printed music as well as an education center offering harp lesson studios and consumer events.
Shin Aoyama, pres...
June 17, 2021 06:14 PM
Suzuki Melodion Celebrates 60th Birthday
Suzuki Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd. just announced Suzuki Melodion（melodica）turns 60.
Following the photo contest held last year as part of the 60th anniversary projects, the company opened a special online site recently and launched a new commemorative model on June 6.
Manji Suzuki, founder and late president of Suzuki first developed Melodion in 1961 seeking new business opportunities in the educational market. Six years later Japanese government regulated melodica as one of stan...
May 17, 2021 10:55 PM
Japan’s Music Products Market: Tips and the Prospects from An Expert
Japan Musical Instruments Association(JMIA) held the first webinar on April 12 inviting Tomoaki Tanaka, associate professor of Tokyo Keizai University (photo). It was part of the association’s new projects to be held regularly to upgrade services for the members. He completed 2019 Japanese Music Products Manufacturers Survey commissioned by JMIA last December.
In the opening remarks, Masato Oshiki, director of General Affairs of JMIA remarked, “We found last fall through questionnaire addressed ...
May 14, 2021 02:36 PM
Yamaha Redesigns Flagship Store in Ginza, Tokyo
Yamaha and Yamaha Music Japan completed redesigning of Yamaha Ginza flagship store and opened as a brand shop with a new concept offering visitors fun shopping and musical experiences on April 17. In conjunction, Yamaha Music Nagoya Store, the key location in Central Japan also finished redesigning project.
Music products are no exception these days sold like commodities as e-commerce increasingly prevails. New Yamaha Ginza Store is designed to be the latest information center of Yamaha brand. I...
May 14, 2021 02:19 PM
Obituary Masakatsu Yanagisawa (1963-2021)
Masakatsu Yanagisawa, chairman, CEO of Pearl Musical Instruments Co., Ltd. passed away on March 29 at the age of 58.
As the 4th generation of Yanagisawa family, he headed the company founded by Katsumi Yanagisawa in 1952 until recently. He dedicated providing musicians with top quality Pearl percussion instruments and flutes. During his tenure, he much contributed to expand the domestic and international markets.
Pearl also distributes imported products including Sabian cymbals and gongs, Remo d...
April 12, 2021 03:31 PM
Pearl Celebrates 75 Years Anniversary Online
Pearl carried a special event on April 2 on Pearl YouTube channel in celebration of its 75th anniversary. The company announced new anniversary models and presented artists talk sessions, concerts featuring renowned drummers including Hiro Tsunoda, Maya from LUNA SEA, Natsume from Shazna and Raise A Suilen, and marching drills by Oarai Highschool Blue Hawks marching band. The visitors also enjoyed virtual flute factory tour of Pearl as well as flute concerts.
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April 12, 2021 01:46 PM
2020 Japanese Musical Instruments Export and Import
Japan exported a total of 60.3 billion yen worth of musical instruments, parts and accessories in 2020, a 15% decrease over the previous year. But almost all categories went down compared to the year before. While upright & grand piano exports which share the largest value of the total export declined 10%, brass instruments and other wind instruments significantly declined by roughly 30% and 20%, respectively.
5 top categories of upright & grand pianos, reed instruments & other wind ...
March 16, 2021 09:14 AM
2019 JMIA Music Products Retail Sales Survey
Japan Musical Instruments Association has recently completed retail sales of music products from April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020. JMIA sent out a questionnaire to 344 music retailer members throughout Japan, and 114 retailers responded. Total sales of 114 music retailers in 2019 were 78,418,653 yen.
Please take note that the 2019 retail sales data can not be simply compared with the data of the last couple of years because the retailers joined in the survey differ from year to year. JMIA ha...
February 25, 2021 09:02 PM
2020 Japanese Music Products Retail Market Survey
We much struggled with the pandemic in 2020. Covid-19 devastated almost all industries throughout the world. The music products industry was not an exception though some categories enjoyed unexpected sales growth brought by stay-at-home demands. School music education, extra-calicular band activities, music lessons and entertainment businesses all severely suffered. A terrible year it really was.
While customers came up to local music stores during the lockdown, business shift to EC accelerated....
February 25, 2021 09:02 PM
Obituary Seiichi Utsunomiya
Seiichi Utsunomiya, former president of Japan Piano Technicians Association (JPTA) passed away on January 8 at the age of 94.
Utsunomiya contributed to set up JPTA, and served the chairman of the organization for 5 years from 1982. He also served as chairman of International Association of Piano Builders and Technicians (IAPBT) from 1987 to 1990.
In recognition of decades of dedication to the society of piano technicians, Utsunomiya received Medal with Blue Ribbon in 1992.
His book titled ‘A Gui...
January 19, 2021 03:18 PM
Roland Relists Shares At Tokyo Stock Exchange -An Interview with Jyunichi Miki, president-
Roland Corporation relisted shares at 1st section of Tokyo Stock Exchange on December 16. Jyunichi Miki, president of Roland talked about the story of relisting and the goals of Roland in the coming years and future.
Back in 2008 Roland had struggled with slowdown of business after the financial crisis. As part of efforts to enhance organizational effectiveness, the company chose to operate as a private entity in MBO partnered with Taiyo Pacific Partners in 2014.
Since then, under the leadership...
January 08, 2021 02:37 PM
Obituary Mototsugu Shimamura (1933 – 2020)
Founder and chairman/CEO of Shimamura Music, Mototsugu Shimamura passed away on Dec. 26. He was 87 years old.
Founded in 1962 by Mototsugu Shimamura, Shimamura Music has grown to one of the leading music retailers in the world market with total sales of 38.6 billion yen today with 175 music stores and music teaching studios throughout Japan and 5 locations in China.
Shimamura Music remained as one of local music chains in limited areas of Tokyo and Chiba Pref. until ‘90s, but it rapidly grew to ...
December 21, 2020 11:19 AM
Yamaha Launches New Digital Saxophone
Yamaha started distribution of YDS-150 digital saxophone developed to provide first time and entry level players with pleasure of music making on November 20. Prior to the distribution it was presented on the online press conference.
Atsuki Goto, manager of Wind/String/Percussion Instruments Sales Division of Yamaha Music Japan commented, “Saxophone is said to have tonal character close to human voice with unlimited tonal colors and expression capability. YDS-150, a fusion of acoustic and digita...
December 20, 2020 06:07 PM
Korg Opens Experience Lounge
Korg Experience Lounge Shibuya showroom invites visitors to experience all types of Korg digital instruments including latest models.
Launched on November 14 at Sakuragaoka, Shibuya-ku, it also has Guitar Owner’s Salon Shibuya outfitted with two separate rooms for sound check in the same premise where Vox and Musicman electric guitars and basses as well as Blackstar, Kemper, Aguillar and other amps and effects are showcased.
Takasumi Tanaka of Sales Planning CDM Dept. says, “We expect the showro...
December 20, 2020 03:08 PM
Shinshu（Nagano）Guitar Festival
More than 48% of guitars produced in Japan come from Nagano. For more than half century the guitars born in Nagano have been highly appreciated both in Japanese and overseas music scene. In recent years, the center of guitar manufacturing in Nagano has been consolidated in Chushin area, and the high-end guitars built by acclaimed luthiers and master craftsmen are gaining global popularity.
First staged in 2019, Shinshu Guitar Festival, an exclusive exhibition of electric guitars and basses took ...
December 20, 2020 02:31 PM
Suzuki Completes New Headquarters
Hamamatsu-based Suzuki Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd. started operation at its new headquarters bldg. on October 19.
The 4-story building has enabled the company to consolidate every division from manufacturing to R & D, engineering, sales, administration and import and export businesses under one roof.
On the first floor, it has a spacious section showcasing well-known products of Suzuki where visitors can watch video introducing business concept of the founder, late Man...
December 20, 2020 02:25 PM
Obituary Sanjiro Kawamorita(1924 – 2020)
Sanjiro Kawamorita, former vice chairman of Kawai Musical Instruments Mfg., Co., Ltd. passed away on September 18 at the age of 96.
Joined Kawai of its Shimada factory in 1947, he was promoted to manager of Products Dept. in 1967. After having experienced several key posts he took responsibility as board of directors vice chairman in 1987.
While serving upper level board at several Kawai subsidiaries, he contributed to the music products industry as vice chairman of Shizuoka Musical Instruments ...
December 17, 2020 11:49 PM
2019 JMIA Music Products Industry Manufacturers Survey
Japan Musical Instruments Association recently completed the Music Products Industry Manufacturers Survey conducted by Tomoaki Tanaka, associate professor of Tokyo Keizai University and his group. They sent a questionnaire to 81 companies in the industry, and 56 responded. The Retailers Survey will be available early spring.
The pandemic struck every segment of the industry from manufacturing, to distribution after the last spring. Under the chaotic environments, it took extra time and labor for...
November 19, 2020 09:17 AM
Yamaha Ginza Store Renews 1st and 2nd Floors
Yamaha resumed operation of the 1st and 2nd floors of Yamaha Ginza Store, Tokyo, redesigned as Brand Experience Floors on October 23.
Entering the 1st floor, visitor is greeted with a 25-face large display screen and a ‘keys between table’ digital piano built in a table. Movie contents carrying Yamaha’s brand concept ‘Make Waves’ and images connected keys between table displayed on the screen are visible by passersby through the window. (photo right: ‘keys between table’ digital pian...
November 14, 2020 11:13 AM
Jeugia Kyoto Sanjyo Flagship Store Refurbished
Kyoto-based Jeugia completed renewal works of Sanjyo flagship store on October 1.
Adding new Piano Salon, consolidated music software division and an expanded repair section for woodwind and stringed instruments (photo bottom right), the company expects to enhance advantages of the flagship store, being a center of local music culture. Also it is expected to serve both music makers and amateur music fans offering them opportunities to learn music playing, a performance stage and fun experience.
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November 11, 2020 02:39 PM
Roland Applies For Relisting
It’s announced on November 11 that Roland Corporation applied for relisting of stocks to Tokyo Stock Exchange. The company became a private entity by MBO in 2014. The total market value of Roland is estimated to be 80 billion yen. It’s going to be one of the largest IPOs in Japan this year.
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October 10, 2020 03:29 PM
Most Wind Instruments Proved Safe In Concert Amid Pandemic
After experts in Berlin indicated appropriate social distance in classical music concert as 1.5 meters space between individual stringed instrument players, and 2 meters space between individual wind instrument players last May, classical music concert was only held in Japan under strict control of the guidance until September. Japanese Government recently lifted the restriction, and classical music concert is now held under the equivalent conditions to the days before the coronavirus started to...
October 10, 2020 03:29 PM
2020 Musical Instruments Fair Japan Online Planned in December
Japan Musical Instruments Association plans a consumer music event, 2020 Musical Instruments Fair Japan Online from December 11 through 13. Organized as a special program substituting to 2020 Musical Instruments Fair Japan slated in October, it collaborates with BARKS, a leading music information website in Japan.
Under the banner of ‘Why Not Making Music Now? Music Never Stops’, it provides experienced and first-time music makers with a host of entertainment contents only enjoyable online in pr...
October 07, 2020 10:58 AM
Hideo Nonaka (1920-2020)
Hideo Nonaka, founder, and chairman of Yokohama-based wholesaler Nonaka Boeki passed away on September 16, right a day after celebration of his 100th birthday. Memorial reception took place on 22nd inviting industry leaders and musicians. The funeral mass was held on 23rd at Yamate Catholic Church, Yokohama in conformity with his wishes.
He succeeded Nonaka Gakkiten, musical instrument importer founded by father in 1918, and in 1953 launched Nonaka Boeki. Since the first overseas business trip f...
September 16, 2020 09:07 PM
Manji Suzuki (1923 – 2020)
Manji Suzuki, founder and chairman of Suzuki Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd. passed away on August 21. He was 97 years old.
Harmonica enthusiast since elementary school days, Manji Suzuki eagerly sought to get a job at the harmonica factory of Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in his hometown, Hamamatsu. After mastered all works of harmonica manufacturing, he launched his own workshop in 1953. It was actually start from a scratch borrowing an irrigation motor pump from...
September 16, 2020 11:19 AM
Kanda Shokai Sets About Monthly Guitar Subscription Service
Tokyo-based music products wholesaler Kanda Shokai began Play G guitar subscription service for first-time and experienced guitar players on August 3. The company expects the new service meets the demands of consumer of every age group and help them to start guitar playing at reasonable fee, and try versatile guitars including coveted models of favorite artists.
Rokushiro Sasaki, manager of Marketing Dept. says, “It has long been said that interest in guitar waned among young people. We feel the...
September 09, 2020 04:11 PM
Music Retailers Report: Demands Grew During Lockdown
Music retail business was hard hit as COVID-19 spread throughout the spring school season. After the declaration of a state of emergency lifted in the middle of May, music retailers slowly returned to business and in-store music lesson resumed in June. Customers began visiting music stores.
Great number of people have found pleasure of music making during lockdown, and demands sharply grew for fun-oriented casual type musical instruments. Seasoned musicians sought out gears for music production ...
August 19, 2020 08:46 PM
Japan Musical Instruments Association General Affairs Committee Approves A Substitute Plan for Musical Instruments Fair Japan 2020
Japan Musical Instruments Association held the 2nd General Affairs Committee meeting online on July 7 with participation of 13 members.
Masato Oshiki, president of the Committee asked the members to talk about music promotional plans in place of Musical Instruments Fair Japan 2020 cancelled on July 1. He said “Music products business stalled for 3 months. Sales we lost in the period have not recovered yet. On the other hand, it is great that we had strong demands for some types of products gener...
August 19, 2020 08:37 PM
Yamaha and Kawai Provide Online Services and Live Concert
Yamaha made an online SYNCROOM ensemble session app, (for Windows and macOS) open free encouraging music players in distant areas to communicate via music online. It provides online sessions by 5 players in 5 different places as a member offers a virtual Room and invite 4 session players to join.
By minimizing latency of audio data sent via internet with help of Yamaha’s exclusive technology, group members even in remote areas can enjoy comfortable ensemble session. Yamaha upgraded the app. addi...
August 19, 2020 08:33 PM
Yamaha Showcases Music Gears For Home Entertainment
Yamaha is presenting music-related products helpful for nesting at the small exhibition area in Japan Railways Hamamatsu station bullet train concourse. The products include SYNCROOM online ensemble session application, speakerphones, Silent guitars, Web Casting Mixer, etc. all capitalizing Yamaha’s established sound and network technologies. They support people enjoy music making and connect friends safely at this isolated time.
The special exhibition lasts until June 30, 2021.
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August 19, 2020 08:31 PM
Kawai Ryuyo Factory Marks 40th Anniversary
In celebration of 40 years history of Ryuyo piano factory, Kawai is opening a special photo-exhibition telling 4 decades of piano building at the small exhibition area in Japan Railways Hamamatsu station bullet train concourse.
The exhibit also includes a digital signage showing seasoned craftsmen and their works of building pianos inherited from the founding period as well as an exhibit of Shigeru Kawai SK-7 grand piano. The special exhibition lasts until June 30, 2021.
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August 19, 2020 08:27 PM
Yanagisawa Adopts MAPKA, Environment-friendly New Material for Ligature Caps
Concerns for better environment for the earth are increasing worldwide, retail stores, convenience stores and supermarkets in Japan stopped providing shoppers with free plastic bags on July 1. It is part of all-industry consolidated activities to reduce plastic waste in seashores.
Yanagisawa Wind Instrument Inc., a Tokyo-based saxophone specialist maker, selected MAPKA, new material for its ligature caps in replace of plastics.
Developed by Eco Research Institute Ltd., MAPKA is an eco-biotic pla...
July 13, 2020 11:10 AM
2020 Tokyo Music Fair Cancelled
Japan Musical Instruments Association announced cancellation of 2020 Musical Instruments Fair Japan (Tokyo Music Fair) scheduled from October 2 through 4 due to COVID-19 pandemic. The event is held biennial, and the association has not yet revealed plans for the next fair.
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June 18, 2020 06:17 PM
13 Music Products Industry Leaders Talk About How to Survive the Difficult Time
Much has been talked about the impact of CORVID-19. Since the declaration of a state of emergency over the virus in Japan on April 7, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers struggled to minimize the impact while temporarily closing store fronts, reducing work hours and employing remote working. Japanese government lifted the statement of emergency by May 25, but the virus has changed our traditional lifestyle and behavior in society completely.
Music activities from live concerts to band and e...
June 11, 2020 04:47 PM
How Do We Re-build Business After CORVID-19 Pandemic? – Piano Teachers Find Advantages in Online Lesson
As the coronavirus continues to spread and affect our life and business, music teachers have been hard hit by lockdown being unable to provide students with lessons at their studios.
The Piano Teachers’ National Association of Japan (PTNA) with 17,000 registered members throughout Japan carried out a survey at the end of February sending 2,000 members a question sheet to know how the piano teachers are coping with the present difficulties. A total of 340 music teachers responded.
Upon consent f...
May 14, 2020 03:01 PM
An Immediate Survey- How Deep Has The Industry Been Affected by CORVID-19?
Japan declared a state of emergency over coronavirus on April 7th to Tokyo, Osaka and 5 other large cities. On 16th, it expanded to include entire areas throughout Japan.
According to the request from the Government, most music stores temporarily closed operation or continued to run cutting business hours. In-store music lesson programs were cancelled until May 6 (extended to the middle of May). All businesses in the industry are coping with the situation by remote-working, work shifts and stagg...
April 12, 2020 02:31 PM
2019 Japan Musical Instruments Export and Import
Export growth of pianos and acoustic guitars
The statistics compiled by The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry show that total shipment of acoustic pianos surpassed 40,000 units for the first time in the last 5 years. It gained 4% growth in value over the previous year.
Healthy performance of piano industry last year is verified by the statistics of Shizuoka Musical Instruments Manufacturers’ Association with increases of grand and upright pianos in production and export as well. While dome...
April 08, 2020 09:02 PM
Industry Manufacturers and Distributors Meet To Know New Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement Import Tax
Tokyo Musical Instruments Association held a meeting on February 25 to acquire latest information on new import tax of Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement at a meeting room of Gakki Kaikan (Japan’s music products industry members headquarters), Tokyo. A total of 36 members took part from Tokyo Musical Instruments Manufacturers’ Association and Eastern Japan Musical Instruments Distributors Association.
Ms. Kazuyo Aoki, an expert of Economic Partnership Division, The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industr...
April 07, 2020 05:15 PM
Yamaha and Kawai Support Children Staying Home Because of the Epidemic
Yamaha now offers Smart Education System, a digital music teaching material of soprano recorder lesson for elementary school children, and alto recorder lesson for junior high school students free of charge in support of children staying home due to temporary shut-down of public schools. (photo right top)
They are designed to support learning to play soprano and alto recorders with rich instruction videos combined with effective practice function.
Children and students can access to Yamaha websi...
April 07, 2020 05:11 PM
Yamano Music Leases 3 Sales Floors to KDDI
Yamano Music recently announced that the company had reached an agreement with KDDI to lease basement, first and second floors of its main store in Ginza Tokyo.
The 7-story building had mainly CDs on the 1st floor, but the company moved them to upper floors in the summer of 2019 as CD market has been stagnant for long. KDDI plans to open Ginza 456 concept store this summer using the 3 floors.
Yamano Music expects the lease will contribute to increase not only store traffic but also generate syne...
March 15, 2020 11:40 PM
How Much Is The Coronavirus Affecting The Music Products Industry?
Since the coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan, China last year end, the highly infectious disease has spread throughout the world in astonishing speed. China sealed off the entire city of Wohan on January 23, but the confirmed cases and death toll rise up day by day. Without any workable medicine and vaccine, the world now confronts hard battle with the harmful disease.
As a result of strict migration control by Chinese government in the epicenter, great parts of economic activities from manufact...
February 09, 2020 05:07 PM
2019 Music Products Retail Market Survey
It seems that the largest concerns for retailers in Japan in 2019 were hike of consumption tax, which is complicated with different rates applied depending on conditions and commodities, and up to 5% pay back system of consumption tax on purchases under the Government-funded cashless payment promotional program. It’s understandable that considerable number of retailers got discomposed to handle these issues.
The consumption tax hike was much smaller and less influential compared to the last time...
February 05, 2020 04:29 PM
Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement Enforced
Japan and U.S reached agreement on trade and digital trade October 7 in White House, Washington D.C, and it took effect Jan. 1 this year.
U.S import tax on Japanese origin upright pianos, grand pianos, brass and woodwind instruments, large keyboard instruments, accordions, electronic keyboards, other electronic musical instruments, parts & accessories is now reduced. Bowed instruments including violins, guitars and percussion instruments are excluded from the agreement.
Tokyo Musical Instrum...
February 05, 2020 04:25 PM
Yamaha Refurbishes Flagship Retail Store in Ginza
Yamaha Music Retailing, recently announced a plan to refurbish limited floors of its main store building in Ginza, Tokyo. The ground floor and 1st and 2nd basement floors will be tentatively closed from March 2 to July.
After March 2, sales space for guitars, drums and digital musical instruments on the 1st basement will move to 4th floor. Digital piano and Electones on the 1st floor will be relocated on 5th floor, and CDs, DVDs, printed music and music books on the ground floor will be found on...
January 16, 2020 06:03 PM
Electronic Musical Instruments Exhibition: 100 Years History
Termen, which is recognized as the first electronic musical instrument was invented by Dr. Lev Termen, Russia in 1920. In the ensuing 100 years, electronic musical instrument has dramatically progressed scientifically and artistically. National Science Museum in Tokyo and Kakehashi Foundation co-staged a special exhibition putting the 100 years history of electronic musical instrument into spotlight from Dec. 3 through 15 in support of Music Dept., Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music, Takara...
January 16, 2020 05:40 PM
1st Tokyo Effects Pedal Summit
Presented to transmit information and promote communication among effects pedal manufacturers, boutique builders and media, 36 exhibitors took part in the first Tokyo Effects Pedal Summit to introduce 100 brands pedal effects on November 23 and 24 at ESP Entertainment Tokyo. Total attendance was 1,100 for the two days.
Along with broad selection of new and best seller effects pedals on display, the visitors were invited to educational and talk sessions including “Early Days of Effect Pedals: Whe...
December 11, 2019 11:12 AM
Casiotone Returns After 40 Years Break
Casio has recently revived Casiotone brand, with which the company got involved in the music products industry and launched first compact electronic keyboard line 40 years ago. The new Casiotone comes in two models of CT-S200 and LK-312. Japan Music Trades interviewed with Takao Matsuda, manager of Music Pruducts Business Unit to have him talk on the new Casiotones and the revival story. (photos above: Casiotone CT-S200, left, and LK-312)
Casiotone 201 came into the market in 1980 as the initial...
