This year marks the 77th anniversary of Showa Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd., the only musical instrument manufacturer in Japan that exclusively deals with harmonicas.

The founder, Mr. Rikuhei Suyama, worked as a banker and trained as a harmonica craftsman, before starting a harmonica factory in Sunayama-cho, Hamamatsu City with three friends in 1947.

After that, the second generation, Mr. Yoshinori Suyama, developed a new way to preserve the tradition and let more people know about the appeal of the harmonica as a musical instrument, so that people could easily pick up the harmonica as a souvenir from Hamamatsu. I did. As a souvenir symbolizing Hamamatsu, the city of music, it is sold inside Hamamatsu Station and service areas in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Currently, the third generation of the company, Ms. Fumiko Suyama, works with her family to carefully manufacture each harmonica by hand, using the same craftsmanship that has remained unchanged since the company’s founding.

I have been devoted to harmonica for 77 years. This month’s recommended product is “Showa Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd.”♪

History of Showa Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

When the company was founded in 1947, the bright tones of the harmonica were loved by many people as a form of entertainment that brought peace of mind to post-war people. It was popular as a musical instrument that could be easily enjoyed, and it was produced in such a way that if you made it, you could sell it.

After that, harmonicas were introduced into school education, and no matter how much they were made, production could not keep up. At that time, there were more than 10 harmonica manufacturers in Hamamatsu alone.

However, at its peak in the 1960s and 1960s, school education shifted from the harmonica to the keyboard harmonica, and the harmonica continued to decline.

Other companies have switched from producing harmonicas to keyboard instruments, but Showa Musical Instruments continues to operate as a musical instrument manufacturer that only produces harmonicas. We carry on the tradition as the only company in Japan that deals exclusively with harmonicas.

Mr. Yoshinori Suyama, the second generation president, gave the harmonica as a musical instrument as a Hamamatsu souvenir.

Mr. Yoshinori Suyama, the second president of the company, searched for a new way to play the harmonica, hoping to bring the declining harmonica into the hands of as many people as possible.

Then, in conjunction with the opening of a souvenir booth at the Hamanako Flower Expo in 2004, we developed a mini harmonica measuring just 3.5 centimeters as a souvenir.

Taking advantage of the experience of making mini harmonicas for export when the company was founded shortly after the war, the company learned the know-how from the craftsmen of the time and created a new mini harmonica.

Mini harmonica is not a toy, but a quality instrument made by a musical instrument manufacturer that can be tuned and played one by one by craftsmen. The souvenirs that symbolize Hamamatsu, the music town, have sold like hotcakes and are now sold at Hamamatsu Station and service areas.

The official shop of Hamanako Flower Expo 2024, which is currently being held, also sells mini harmonicas, colorful harmonicas, and Hamamatsu Genki flutes.　(Hamanako Flower Expo 2024 has ended.)

The commitment of Showa musical instruments: Handmade by craftsmen since the company's founding

Each harmonica production process is carefully handcrafted by craftsmen. A harmonica is a musical instrument that has a plate with a thin piece of brass metal called a reed attached to it, which vibrates to produce sound. The tone changes with just one tuning by a craftsman.

Tuning involves cutting down the reed to match the high and low pitch of the sound, leading to the correct sound. If the sound is high, adjust by cutting the base of the reed, and if the sound is low, adjust the tip of the reed.

The reed becomes thinner each time it is cut, so the craftsmen try to tune the sound in one go.

Each harmonica is carefully tuned and adjusted one by one, and then assembled by hand. The work process has remained unchanged for 77 years.

For those who can't read music scores, sheet music that shows scales using numbers is popular.

On the harmonica, the sound of Do Mi So is played while breathing, and the sound of Le Fa La Si is played while breathing.

Just by blowing, you can play the notes of the Do Mi So chords. We also have musical scores that represent musical scales numerically, so even if you can’t read musical scores, please give it a try!

Click here to download sheet music

harmonica care

A harmonica produces sound by vibrating reeds attached to a plate. Therefore, if something gets caught in the base of the reed, it will not be possible to produce accurate sound.

Before playing the harmonica, make sure to keep it clean by rinsing your mouth.

After using the harmonica, place it face down on a towel to remove any saliva or other moisture inside the harmonica to keep it dry and clean.

A valuable experience where you can see the craftsmanship up close! Workshop tour

A valuable experience where you can see the craftsmanship up close! Workshop tour

During the workshop tour, you can see up close the history of harmonicas, the production process, and the skills of the craftsmen, including tuning. You can also experience tuning, and you can actually feel the delicate sound and tuning of the harmonica.

Packed with tourist information about Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana! You can apply for a workshop tour from Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana Daisuki Net’s “Yaramaika Tourism” section.

Those who participate in the workshop tour experience will receive the most luxurious mini harmonica (premium gold) from Showa musical instruments as a souvenir!

Click here to make a reservation for a workshop tour

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「https://hamamatsuat.hamamatsu-daisuki.net/experience/1236/ 」

Click here for factory tours other than Yaramaika Tourism

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「https://www.showagakki.jp/post_7.html」

A message to our readers from Showa Musical Instruments Public Relations Mr. Tetsuya Nakazawa

Showa Musical Instruments Manufacturing has been making harmonicas for over 70 years in the music town of Hamamatsu.

Although we are no longer in an era where you can sell something just by making it, all of our employees are working hard every day to keep in mind the philosophy of our previous president Mr. Yoshinori Suyama: “We must never lose the harmonica.”

It is a very easy-to-use instrument, and it is also a rare instrument that has the valuable feature of producing sound whether you blow it or smoke it.

Whether it’s a full-fledged harmonica or a small mini-harmonica, our craftsmen make each harmonica with great care.

Please pick it up and try it.

What did you think? We introduced Showa Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd., the only musical instrument company in Japan that only makes harmonicas.

You can see the craftsmanship on a tour of the workshop. The harmonica is a musical instrument that is small enough to fit in your pocket and is easy to start playing. Would you like to experience the beautiful sound produced by a harmonica for yourself?

[Showa Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd.]

〒433-8122

1-8-55 Kamijima, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

[mail] toiawase@syowagakki.co.jp

[TEL] 053(471)4341

[FAX] 053(471)4342

[Official homepage]

「https://www.syowagakki.co.jp/」

[Business hours]

Business hours: 9:00-16:00 (closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)