Biography

I am Shunya Miyazaki, the founder and builder of Minamo Guitars, based in Hamamatsu, Japan.

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My journey into music began in high school, where I spent three years studying both double bass and electric bass as a member of the school concert band. Around the same time, I was also surrounded by wood from an early age through my grandfather’s lumber business.

Music and craftsmanship were both close to me, and eventually, I chose to study instrument making at a specialized vocational school.

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While learning the craft of instrument building, I remained deeply involved in music. I performed in bands and also participated in a university jazz circle during my years as a student.

 

After graduation, instead of entering the musical instrument industry, I chose a different path and joined a metal fabrication company. Looking back, what may have seemed like a detour became an essential part of what Minamo Guitars is today.

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I spent my first bonus on a MacBook Pro. After work, I would often sit in a McDonald's teaching myself Adobe Illustrator late into the evening. At one point, I was also working late-night shifts at a local music store’s rehearsal studios, staying connected to musicians and the world of instruments whenever I could.

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As my vision of an ideal instrument gradually became clearer, more and more of my salary went into tools, machinery, and materials. In a small one-room apartment, I even built a makeshift workshop so I could continue building instruments after work.

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I occasionally took custom orders from friends, but at its core, instrument building began as a personal challenge: to find out whether the ideas I believed in could truly resonate with other players.

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Over time, experiences that once seemed unrelated — metalworking, design, performance, customer service, and instrument making — came together to shape Minamo Guitars. Even the aluminum logo plate found on every Minamo headstock today traces its origins back to the knowledge and techniques I learned during those years in metal fabrication.

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Today, I remain personally involved in nearly every stage of the process, from design and woodworking to finishing, assembly, and final setup.

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This is not because I believe everything must be done by one person. Rather, I see each step as an opportunity to learn something different, and I believe that the interaction between those experiences ultimately leads to better instruments.

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Growing up around wood, dedicating myself to music, and learning both metalworking and design — I believe that if any one of those experiences had been missing, Minamo Guitars would not exist in its current form.

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For that reason, I believe that the knowledge required to build meaningful instruments is not always found within instrument making itself.

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Minamo Guitars is not built around mass production or rapid expansion. What matters most to me is the instrument in front of me and the person who will eventually play it.

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The greatest reward is knowing that an instrument becomes part of someone’s everyday life and musical journey for many years to come.

 

Through new experiences, new encounters, and an ongoing curiosity about the world, I continue to pursue instruments that reflect my own ideas — built with freedom, intention, and a commitment to creating something truly meaningful.