Yasuhiko Iwanade:
Living on guitars as a guitarist, an author, a researcher, a guitar archeologist, a historian, a restorer, a luthier, and a pickup builder.
Yasuhiko Iwanade began his career in the music industry in the 1970s as a guitar repairman and restorer. After living in US working in the Custom Shop department of an American company, he returned to Japan and served as an advisor for distributors who carried American guitar brand products. Along with launching his own guitar brand, he had monthly columns for guitar-related magazines and authored specialized books on guitars, one of which was published in English in the United States.
In the 2000s, he worked for another American guitar company, focusing on expanding distribution channels in Asian region in a managerial role rather than production.
Later, he became the head of the brand’s subsidiary in Japan overseeing the Japanese and Asian markets, culminating in a career of over a decade. Then following his long-held plans and extensive research, he launched Toneism, specializing in the production of vintage style pickups.