Shigeo Obana - The origins of his career as a guitar maker

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All of the instruments used by eight-string guitarist Takeshi Obana are made by his father, Shigeo Obana.

However, Shigeo had originally lived a life unrelated to the world of guitar making.
After joining Yokohama Rubber, he built his career in the field of motorsports, and was in charge of developing racing tires in parallel with rally activities. From a young age, he was stationed in West Germany for long periods, where he was involved in tire testing at the Safari Rally and on circuits.

Tsuyoshi spent his childhood in Germany and it was during this time that he began playing the guitar.

 

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At age 70, he discovered guitar making

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As time passed, Shigeo, who had been commuting between Germany and Japan, decided to retire and return to Japan at the age of 70.
During a temporary visit to Japan six months before his return, my father and Tsuyoshi were drinking at an izakaya.

"I'm almost 70, so I'll have a lot of free time when I go back to Japan.
Maybe I should make a model ship again..."

Shigeo has always been very dexterous, and one of his hobbies was making elaborate wooden model ships.

"Instead of making a model ship, why not try making a guitar?"

At the time, the seven-string guitar that Tsuyoshi used was difficult to obtain in Japan and was made in Brazil.

"...Let's give it a try."

That one word was the beginning of it all.

 

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The first piece completed by self-study

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Upon returning to Germany, Shigeo began collecting literature on guitar making, acquiring tools, and studying the blueprints of classical guitars.
Germany is a major guitar-making country on par with Spain, and the country was blessed with a favorable environment.

After returning to Japan at the age of 70, he completed a guitar without any apprenticeship, relying only on classic guitar-making books.
It was a Hauser-style six-string guitar, not a seven-string.

Standing in front of the finished guitar, Tsuyoshi thought to himself:

"Honestly, it might not ring properly...
How can I comfort you..."

I gave it a try, feeling a bit nervous...

It sounded surprisingly good.

"This can be used as is...!"

At this moment, guitar maker Obana Shigeo was born.

 

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The challenge of multi-string guitars and its evaluation

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The second one was a sudden attempt at a 7-string guitar.
This second guitar had a sound that clearly surpassed the Brazilian-made seven-string guitar that Takeshi had been using up until then.

No. 3 is also a seven-string guitar, and this instrument is still in Tsuyoshi's possession and continues to be used in live performances and recordings.

Before long, the sound of Tsuyoshi's guitar playing gained a reputation, and he began receiving requests to make instruments from guitarists both in Japan and abroad.
Eventually, orders began coming in from top Brazilian guitarists.

 

• Yamandu Costa

• João Lyra

• João Camarero
  others

It's an unbelievable dream come true.

Furthermore, it is a most gratifying event that his long-time friend and collaborator, Nakanishi Fumihiko, still enjoys Shigeo's early works.

 

 

Now and in the future

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Time has passed and now he is 85 years old.
Shigeo is still actively making guitars.

Thankfully, production requests continue unabated, and he continues to be in a situation where "it's not easy to retire."

Of course, all of the guitars that Takeshi plays were made by his father.
In recent years, at Tsuyoshi's request, he has produced four eight-string guitars made from different materials.
It is rare to find a maker in Japan who has made so many multi-string guitars in his 15 years of experience.

The latest 8-string guitar made for Tsuyoshi is No. 65.

How many more will come from these hands?

No one knows yet, as long as the aural dialogue between father and son continues.