In addition to my other guitar-related work, I worked as a guitar writer from 1979 to 2003 for two major guitar/music magazines in Japan. I had monthly columns covering topics such as vintage/custom guitars, guitar mechanisms/construction, and repair/restoration.
Additionally, I wrote a few special 6–12-page articles each year. Most of my writing focused on the American guitar scene, including visits to luthiers and factories, guitar shows, and interviews with key figures in guitar history. I also authored and supervised several guitar history-related books. Two of the books I wrote are “The Beauty of the ‘Burst” and “The Galaxy of Strats,” both published in the late ’90s. “The Beauty of the ‘Burst” was later translated and published in English, while “The Galaxy of Strats” has not yet been translated.
Below is a list of publications I have worked on over the years, mostly in Japanese, except for “The Beauty of the ‘Burst”:
• “The Beauty of the ‘Burst” (Rittor Music) – Author
• “The Galaxy of Strats” (Rittor Music) – Author
• “The Fender 1 Stratocaster” (Rittor Music) – General Supervising Editor
• “The Fender 2 Telecaster & Other Guitars” (Rittor Music) – General Supervising Editor
• “The History of Electric Guitar” (Player Corporation) – General Supervising Editor for USA-made guitars category
• “Maniac Guitar” (Player Magazine monthly column) – Focus on vintage and rare guitars
• “Guitar Graphic” (Rittor Music) – Contributing editor
• “Guitar Mechanics” (Player Magazine monthly column) – Structure and function, history of development, etc.
• “Vintage File” (Guitar Magazine monthly column) – Focus on vintage guitars
• “Guitar Repair” (Player Magazine monthly column)
• “Guitar Talk” (Guitar magazine monthly column) – Factory/workshop visits, interviews
• Spot articles focused on interests – Factory tours, interviews, history, events, and conventions
• Spot articles focused on brands – Martin, Gibson, Fender, Rickenbacker, Guild, Taylor, Ovation, G&L, Seymour Duncan, John Suhr, Don Grosh, James Tyler, Gene Baker
• Spot articles on events – Greater Southwest Guitar Show (now Dallas International Guitar Festival), Luthier events