Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
A Japanese Piano Manufacturer.
AN
INITIAL MOVE MADE BY A PROGRES-
SIVE CITIZEN OF THE LAND
OF THE RISING SUN.
The rapid strides made in the industrial
development of Japan during the past few
years has been surprising. In every field
have the Japanese demonstrated their abil-
ity to easily adopt Western forms of civili-
zation. The manufacture of pianos and
organs is now receiving some attention at
the hands of the progressive Japanese.
Organs have been made in that country
for some time, but no attempt at piano
manufacturing has ever been made in
Japan until Mr. Shinkichi Matsumoto who
has been identified with the manufacture
of organs in that country commenced in
the piano field.
Mr. Matsumoto, after building a few
pianos, discovered the desirability of ac-
quainting himself with every department
of piano manufacturing, and to attain that
end came to America, where he visited
many of the large factories in the West and
East. Shortly after his arrival in New
York he met Mr. F. G. Smith, of Bradbury
fame, and through his courtesy was gradu-
ated in every department of piano making,
and lastly completed his education in tun-
ing. Both Mr. Smith and his factory su-
perintendent speak in the highest terms of
Mr. Matsumoto's ability. He had already
become fairly proficient in tuning while in
Japan, and for a while was the only tuner
in that country. Now he proposes to bring
all of his expert skill to bear in pianomak-
ing in his native land, to which he has late-
ly returned. It is his intention to build
pianos after the American model and of a
size suitable for Japanese trade.
Mr. Matsumoto considers the possibili-
SHINKICHI MATSUMOTO.
ties excellent for a future sale of his pianos
among the middle-class Chinese and in the
Philippine Islands, and before very long
he intends to show the residents of the
Pacific slope just how far Japan has ad-
vanced in the way of piano making.
Before leaving he completed arrange-
ments whereby he will represent the Brad-
bury and Webster pianos in Japan and the
Miller Organ Co. of Lebanon, Pa. He
arranged with a number of other concerns
to look out for their interests in the East.
Mr. Matsumoto's piano factory will be lo-
cated in Tokio, which he looks upon as
the center of all commerce and industry
in the Orient.
Mr. Smith says of Mr. Matsumoto:
"He has faithfully kept the discipline of
my factories and has learned with eager-
ness and endurance. His return to Japan
is much regretted by everyone in my fac-
tory and he leaves behind him an excellent
record. That he may be successful in the
wide field of piano trade in his native land
is my earnest wish."
American piano manufacturers will view
with interest the inceptive move of piano
making in the Orient. It has been claimed
that the Japanese are not a musical people,
but Mr. Matsumoto affirms that they are
making rapid strides towards reaching a
high degree of musical appreciation. They
have already an Imperial College of Music
in Tokio, which is filled with Japanese
students who evince a fondness for music.
In court and in social circles in Japan the
music of the West is rapidly growing in
popularity. Japanese ladies are fond of
both vocal and instrumental music of the
West, and according to Mr. Matsumoto
they will take quickly to pianos. The in-
struments which he will build will contain
five octaves as, owing to the size of Japan-
ese houses, the large American styles will
not be so easily adaptable.
in piano nomenclature stands for Jewett
a winner and a judicious instrument for a
wise dealer.
have
Factory
LEOHINSTER, MASS.
latest JEWETT
evoked the warmest
territory open.
JEWETT PIANO CO.
The
praise.
styles
Some
r