Yuichiro Yokouchi, founder of Japanese guitar manufacturing giant FujiGen, has died aged 98
Yuichiro Yokouchi, founder of Japanese instrument manufacturer FujiGen – one of the world’s largest guitar manufacturing firms – has died aged 98, a statement on the brand’s social media confirms.
Since its foundation in 1960 – first as Fujigen Gakki Seizo before rebranding as FujiGen in 1989 – Yokouchi’s company has been an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) for some of the world’s largest guitar brands, including Fender Japan, Ibanez, Orville by Gibson and Greco.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our founder, Yuichiro Yokouchi, at the age of 98,” reads the statement on the official FGN Guitars Instagram page.
“With the ambition to become Japan’s finest guitar manufacturer, he named our company after Mt. Fuji – an enduring symbol of the highest standard. Through his dedication and vision, he realised that ambition, laying the foundation for our company to become a world-class guitar manufacturer representing Japan.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our customers and players around the world for their continued support, which has been an essential part of our journey together. We remain committed to honouring his legacy through our craftsmanship and pursuit of excellence.”
Born on September 18, 1927 – and raised in a farming family with no formal training in music or business – Yuichiro Yokouchi’s introduction to the music world came when a friend, Keikichi Watanabe, and businessman Yutaka Mimura, invited him to manage an ailing violin company in Kiso, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
“I’m planning to acquire a company affiliated with the Suzuki Violin Company in Kiso, Yokouchi, would you be willing to manage it?” Mimura asked Yokouchi [per Fuzzfaced.net].
The business plan ultimately fell through, but it planted the seed in Yokouchi’s mind that an instrument company was where his future lay.
Yokouchi subsequently partnered with Mimura to start a musical instrument company, reaching out to violin maker Shiro Suzuki, brother of Shinichi Suzuki, founder of the legendary Suzuki Method of music education.
Encountering difficulty pinning down an affordable factory space in Matsumoto, Yokouchi had the idea to repurpose a 100-square-meter cow shed from his family’s farm. To make this happen, he had to sell his cows. “I had to sell all my cows from this farm to start this business,” he once said in a NAMM interview.
Yokouchi started as Vice President, later becoming President in 1969, and then Chairman of FujiGen in 1986. Steering the ship, he nurtured the company into a guitar manufacturing juggernaut. According to Guitar World, his OEM factory was producing over 15,000 guitars per month.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
