Introduction
On New Year’s Day, 2024, a massive earthquake measuring 7 on the Japanese seven-stage seismic intensity scale suddenly hit the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture. The fury of nature is immeasurable, and even now, when news coverage of the disaster is scarce, we hear that people in the affected areas continue to face difficulties in their daily lives, and that reconstruction efforts are still in progress in some areas. I would like to express my deepest sympathies to all those who have been affected by the disaster.
In the hope of contributing to the reconstruction effort, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of instruments made of wood from Ishikawa Prefecture, as described in this special website, will be donated to Ishikawa Prefecture.
AboutOverview
What can we do now as a guitar maker? In the midst of thinking about this question, we came up with the idea of using Sakura wood from Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, which we had purchased in the past.
The project started with the idea of “making guitars using wood from Ishikawa Prefecture”, including Sakura wood, to convey the charm of the region and provide support to those affected by the disaster.
Materials
In addition to the “Someiyoshino” Sakura wood from Nanao City used for acoustic guitars, which are very familiar to any Japanese person us, for electric guitars, and “Tochi” which has beautiful wood grain patterns, were purchased from Ishikawa Prefecture, respectively, and production began.
Certificate of Origin
A Certificate of Origin is also issued, clearly stating the place of origin of each piece of wood used. It is rare for the place of origin of the wood used for guitars to be clearly indicated, and this is one of the reasons why local wood is used for these guitars.
Hakuichi
Decoration by Kanazawa’s gold leaf artisan group “Hakuichi”
Hakuichi箔一
Ishikawa Prefecture is known as Japan’s largest producer of gold foil. Hakuichi, located in Kanazawa City, has inherited the tradition of Kanazawa foiling, one of the most representative gold foil products in the prefecture, and continues to pass it down to the present day.
The idea to incorporate not only wood but also guitars with designs closely associated with Ishikawa Prefecture led to this collaboration.
In the model with Someiyoshino Skura wood used for the body, a gilded cherry blossom-shaped bakelite is embedded in the head.
The acoustic guitar has a soundhole cover decorated with shimmering gold leaf and a special label with the model name and serial number.
Sakura
Sakura
Headstock Design
The design incorporates the golden eagle, the bird of Ishikawa Prefecture, throughout, and combines scenes of fluttering feathers and cherry blossoms.
Fretboard
The inlays of cherry blossoms in full bloom and the golden eagle are also carefully embedded one by one on the fretboard by the Aska craftsmen.
Pickguard
Headway acoustic guitars feature a design of a woman with a Japanese parasol gazing at a story that unfolds on the headstock and fretboard, and Momose incorporates a special brand logo on the pickguard that expresses the company’s love and support for Ishikawa.
カラーリング
Both the electric and acoustic guitar models feature a new coloring with a hint of cherry blossom-like pink. Both models have a uniquely Japanese look that expresses the loveliness and fragility of cherry blossoms at the same time.
Back
The design is based on the image of the Hakusan Mountain range, also known as the Sacred Mountain Range, which is one of the three sacred mountains of Japan along with Mount Fuji. It is also known as a place where golden eagles live, and the result is a coexistence of power and beauty.
Tochi
トチ
Body
The body top is made of Tochi wood from Ishikawa Prefecture, which has beautiful flame-grained wood. Among white woods, the whiteness of this wood is particularly outstanding.
Pickguard
The Momose logo on the pickguard is specially designed to convey the fact that it is made of tochi wood from Ishikawa Prefecture.
Headstock
The headstock top is also made of Tochi, a wood produced in Ishikawa Prefecture, for a unified and gorgeous overall look.
Coloring
The color “Hydrangea Blue Burst”, which is reminiscent of hydrangea, is an exquisite shade that makes the flamed wood of the Tochi wood grain shine even more brightly while giving it a distinctly Japanese look.
