A sound that continues to resonate through time

It's a 10-minute walk from Hikuma Station on the Entetsu Railway, affectionately known to locals as the "Red Train." In a quiet residential area, you'll find Showa Musical Instruments Manufacturing, marked by a cute sign featuring three cats.

When you open the door to the workshop, the sound of a harmonica echoes through the air, creating a retro Showa-era atmosphere.

The origin of universal music

Showa Musical Instruments was founded in 22 when the company's founder, Rikuhei Suyama, gave up his stable job as a bank clerk and set up a small factory with fellow harmonica craftsmen who had lost their jobs during the war.

The harmonicas, made one by one by hand, were well received, and their sound brought comfort to the exhausted minds and bodies of people in the immediate aftermath of the war.

A melody that heralds a new era

After that, Showa Musical Instruments Manufacturing encountered a major turning point when it met Miyata Toho, one of Japan's leading harmonica players.

The harmonica "Special Miyata" released under Miyata's guidance gained a good reputation and became a big hit. It is said that the show windows of department stores at the time were filled with Special Miyatas.

The popularity of the harmonica was so great that at Hamamatsu Station, salesgirls known as "harmonica girls" sold harmonicas like they were boxed lunches.

Enjoy music anytime, anywhere

Times change, and so does the demand for harmonicas. Showa Musical Instruments has developed a variety of harmonicas to keep up with the times.

We have a wide range of products, from mini harmonicas for souvenirs to full-fledged chromatic harmonicas used by professionals.

In the past, the harmonica was primarily viewed as an instrument that children could easily enjoy, but in recent years, there has been an increase in models aimed at adults who enjoy serious playing.

Precision craftsmanship with attention to detail

At the back of the workshop sits a well-worn workbench, where the reeds, the heart of the harmonica, are prepared.

By stepping on a foot pedal to pump air and produce sound, skilled craftsmen use the senses and techniques they have developed over many years of experience to make fine adjustments that cannot be made by machines.

What you can experience in this tour

During the workshop tour, the sales manager, Mr. Nakazawa, will give a clear explanation, using video, of the story behind the founding of Showa Gakki Manufacturing, the history of the harmonica, and how it is made.

After gaining a deeper understanding of how Hamamatsu became a city of musical instruments and music, you will be guided to a workshop where the sound of harmonicas resonates. After observing the adjustment and assembly process, you can actually try adjusting the reeds of a harmonica on a workbench. The tour takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

After the tour, you will be presented with a "Premium Gold," the highest-end model of mini harmonica manufactured by Showa Gakki. It is compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but can play a variety of songs with one octave of eight notes.

Tetsuya Nakazawa, Director of Sales, Showa Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Originally from Tokyo, she worked for a major automobile manufacturer, but moved to Hamamatsu after getting married. As a sales representative at Showa Gakki Seizo, she is expanding sales channels while valuing connections with customers. She values ​​tradition and is challenging herself with new things while holding fast to her roots. Her recently developed whistle, the Hamamatsu Genki Flute, uses harmonica reeds and can be used not only for enjoying the sound, but also in disaster prevention and emergencies.