1969 Masaru Kohno No. 5 SP/IN

This 1969 Masaru Kohno No. 5 is a classical guitar with a spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, made in Tokyo, Japan, with a 660mm string length and a top refinished in French polish.

Kohno in 1969

Clear, woody and even a bit dark for a spruce, it has the sound that made Kohno’s guitars of this era so admired. The long 660mm string length gives the trebles extra tension and projection.

Model Number and Label

The number on the label is Kohno’s model (grade) number, which placed each guitar within his range – and since the scale shifted over the decades, the year matters as much as the number. The Nishiikebukuro label of the workshop is marked No. 5 and dated 1969.

Finish and Condition

The back and sides have their original lacquer, while the top has since been refinished in French polish. The condition is excellent, with no cracks or repairs, only some normal, respectable playing wear. It is concert ready, set up comfortably and easy to play.

Further Reading

Orfeo’s issue No. 15, “The Guitar in Japan”, is available to read online, and in print as part of “Orfeo Magazine, 11-15”.

Orfeo No. 15: The Guitar in Japan

Orfeo Magazine, 11-15 (print edition)

Masaru Kohno (1926–1998)

Not only the most important luthier to emerge from Japan, Masaru Kohno is also one of the best worldwide. He was born in 1926 in Mito City, Japan, and in 1948 he graduated from the Tokyo College of Arts and Crafts with a degree in woodcraft. It was during this time that he became interested in guitar construction, and in 1960 he traveled to Spain to learn the craft.

Six Months with Arcángel Fernández

Kohno apprenticed for six months at the workshop of Arcángel Fernández in Madrid, and although neither could speak a word of the other’s language, they managed to communicate. Kohno’s apprenticeship consisted mostly of sitting in the back of the shop and quietly – but attentively – observing the master Fernández at work. Upon his return to Tokyo he established his own workshop and quickly gained recognition among Japanese guitarists.

Gold Medal in Belgium, 1967

His international debut came in 1967, when he was awarded the Gold Medal at an international guitar-building competition in Belgium. On the judges’ panel were, among others, Ignacio Fleta, Robert Bouchet, Joaquín Rodrigo and Alirio Díaz. Since then, many players of world renown have used Kohno guitars; among them are Julian Bream, Oscar Ghiglia and Sharon Isbin, to name a few. After Kohno’s death in 1998 his nephew Masaki Sakurai carried on the workshop as Sakurai-Kohno, and today his grandson So Kimishima continues the tradition – read more on our page Kohno, Sakurai & Kimishima.