TOKYO, Mar 14, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - Sessionable, a guitar manufacturer that has set up business in the Ishinomaki area of northeastern Migyagi Prefecture, today held a ceremony to commemorate the completion of its guitar factory in the town of Onagawa in the prefecture. The factory, named "GLIDE garage," was made possible through co-financing from Ishinomaki Shinkin Bank, a local credit union, and the Ishinomaki Branch of Japan Finance Corporation, a public financial institution that supports small business development, as well as funds from the Mitsubishi Corporation Disaster Relief Foundation. The guitar factory officially starts production today.
Sessionable proposes a whole range of novelties to create uniquely designed electric guitars with a particularly "Japanese taste," based on what it refers to as the GLIDE (or Guitar Life Design) concept. GLIDE focuses on three elements: 1) novel materials, including novel guitar parts made of metal and from wood that is sourced exclusively in Tohoku; 2) novel technology, which draws on a juxtaposition of traditional craftsmanship based on the Miyadaiku school of carpentry, known for its use of elaborate wooden joints and sturdy construction, and as handed down through generations of carpenters in Miyagi prefecture's Kesennuma City; and 3) novel design, which draws on the styles of renown Japanese industrial designer, Ken Okuyama. Sessionable's guitars will be sold mainly in Japan and across Asia, with a target of 30 guitars per month produced in the first year and an average of 100 per month by the end of the third year.
Sessionable's guitars will center mainly on its "Questrel" brand, which is a combination of the words "Quest" and "Kestrel." Quest seeks to capture the spirit of the inquiring mind, while Kestrel, the name of a bird commonly spotted in the Tohoku region and known for its astuteness, compliments Quest with the image of a physical product that is attractive and has an air of masculine charm. The first guitar to be sold, however, will be named "swood," following a similar pattern - the word "sword," meant to reflect the image of a sharp sound similar to that of a sword, combined with the word "wood," a reminder that Sessionable uses exclusively Japanese wood (more specifically, wood from Tohoku).
In addition to Sessionable's juxtaposition of traditional craftsmanship with innovative designs in the manufacture of unique electric guitars, the initiative will help to expand Onagawa's industrial base and generate new sources of employment. These factors figured heavily in MCDRF's decision to join forces with Ishonmaki Shinkin Bank and Japan Finance Corporation in providing financing for Sessionable.
The citizens of Onagawa are passionate about pulling together to support new initiatives that contribute to disaster recovery. This new venture will not only have a positive impact on the development of the region's music culture, but by making Onagawa its base, Sessionable's guitar-making operations will also be contributing to the generation of employment and the recovery of industry, while serving as a stimulus for tourism in the region.
About Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Corporation (MC; TSE: 8058) is a global integrated business enterprise that develops and operates businesses across virtually every industry including industrial finance, energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, foods, and environmental business. MC's current activities are expanding far beyond its traditional trading operations as its diverse business ranges from natural resources development to investment in retail business, infrastructure, financial products and manufacturing of industrial goods. With over 200 bases of operations in approximately 80 countries worldwide and a network of over 500 group companies, MC employs a multinational workforce of nearly 60,000 people. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishicorp.com.
Source: Mitsubishi Corporation
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Mitsubishi Corporation Telephone: +81 3 3210 2171 Facsimile: +81 3 5252 7705
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