About MIJ Guitar Guide
Why this site exists
I spent my student years in Japan, surrounded by people who took Japanese-made guitars for granted as reliable, well-built instruments. When I looked outside Japan, I found a gap: players everywhere use Japanese guitars, yet most shops carry only a narrow slice of what actually exists, and the information online is often outdated, scattered, or locked away in Japanese.
MIJ Guitar Guide exists to close that gap — to make Japanese guitars easier to understand, explored in real depth, and accessible to players anywhere in the world.
Who writes this
My name is Koh N., and I’m the founder and author of MIJ Guitar Guide. I’ve been playing guitar for 20 years — my first was a Fernandes FJT-80 headless — and I’ve spent that time researching Japanese-made instruments in particular.
Having lived in Japan, I can read Japanese-language sources, work through original period catalogs, and follow the domestic used market and the shops most players overseas never see. That access is the reason this site can go deeper than a spec sheet.
Over the years I’ve owned and played more than half a dozen Japanese-made guitars — from Greco, Tokai, and Fernandes to Ibanez, ESP, Aria Pro II, and Momose — and that hands-on experience shapes everything I write here.
How I research
Every article here is written from primary material wherever possible — period catalogs, a mix of originals I’ve collected and digital catalog archives, along with Japanese-language documentation and sources — which I organize, translate, and explain for an English-speaking audience. I add my own analysis on where a model sits historically, how it compares to others, and why it matters, rather than simply restating specifications.
Where I use manufacturer catalog images or official product photos, I credit the source. When I get something wrong, I correct it. Accuracy matters more to me than volume.
I illustrate my articles with manufacturer catalog scans and official product photos, always credited to their source, while the writing and analysis are entirely my own.
What you’ll find here
- Brands — the makers, history, and defining models behind Japanese guitar brands
- Features — the deeper stories and design ideas behind specific instruments
- New Releases — coverage of the latest Japanese guitars, amps, and gear, with context on where each fits
- Tips — practical guidance on buying Japanese guitars, from Japan or from Japanese stores
Get in touch
Questions, corrections, or a Japanese guitar you’d like to see covered? Reach me through the Contact page, or follow along on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.