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Evolution of the Japanese Marimba ~A History of Design Through Japan's 5 Major Manufacurers~

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Evolution of the Japanese Marimba ~A History of Design Through Japan's 5 Major Manufacurers~ Fujii Database vol.2 Evolution of the Japanese Marimba ~A History of Design Through Japan's 5 Major Manufacurers~ By Mutsuko Fujii and Senzoku Marimba Research Group November 2009 Fujii Database vol.2 Evolution of the Japanese Marimba ~ A History of Design Through Japan’s Five Major Manufacturers By Mutsuko Fujii and Senzoku Marimba Research Group In 2006, the first “Fujii Database of Japanese Marimba Works,” a survey of Japanese marimba pieces, was released by Mutsuko Fujii and the Senzoku Marimba Research Group and donated to the PAS archive. Since then, we hoped to make another report on the history of Japanese keyboard percussion - including concert xylophones and marimbas. Between 2002 and 2005, the Senzoku Marimba Research Group and I visited the presidents or heads of the five named companies directly and heard about the history of development to date. We have compiled the information in this database. We are delighted to announce the second report as “Fuji Database of the Evolution of the Japanese Marimba ~ A History of Design Through Japan’s Five Major Manufacturers.” The database is a list of Japanese concert xylophones and marimbas sorted by year of manufacture as reported by Japan’s top five keyboard percussion makers. (Only models undergoing major changes are listed due to space limitations.) Quite a few years ago, each firm had manufactured a portable xylophone – a simple, handy instrument with only a keyboard for playing on a table top - before starting to create concert xylophones and marimbas. This was directly related to the Japanese school education concept. In 1947, the Japanese Ministry of Education directed all domestic elementary schools to use the xylophone as a pedagogical instrument based on guidelines taken from the Fundamental Education Act. In response to this, Japanese elementary schools began to use the portable xylophone in music classes. Due to the exceptionally high demand, not only musical instrument companies, but even woodworking shops began production. Each firm produced over 1,000 xylophones per month. Those manufacturers could often not keep up with demand. The result of this high competition was an improvement in both the instruments’ development and in the quality of Japanese percussionists. For this reason, most Japanese people are familiar with the instrument’s name and music. The widespread use of keyboard percussion in music education has continued from generation to generation. Recently, most Japanese elementary and junior high schools are equipped with xylophones, marimbas and vibraphones which are used for music classes or extracurricular activities. Compared to other countries, the large number of Japanese marimba players participating in international competitions proves the large population of players and the enthusiasm for the instrument. Since 1949, some Japanese instrument manufacturers have engaged in pursuing a higher quality of sound. Three top firms maintain Research and Development divisions for the concert xylophone and marimba. (Ref. Diagram 3: YAMAHA Corporation 4: Saito Gakki Seisakusyo Co. 5: Korogisha Co. Ltd. *Also, more educational music instrument firms do exist.) We are eagerly awaiting further development of the instruments and the music. Mutsuko Fujii 3) Range 4) Measurements 5) Bar Material Quality 6) Product Characteristics 1: Miyakawa Marimba model Formality Range Pipes Legs 1 Daisy xylophone F18-A46 No pipes No legs standard 17keys (a desk xylophone) (a desk xylophone) 3 C1-C25 Galvanized Iron legs 25keys gold lacquer 5 C13-F42 Galvanized Iron legs 30keys gold lacquer 7 Pansy C25-C61 Galvanized Iron legs 37keys gold lacquer 8 Hachisuzume C25-C61 Galvanized Wooden legs 37keys gold lacquer 16 Tohnekko F18-F54 Galvanized Metallic pipe 37keys gold lacquer chrome gold 81-A Yamabiko F6-F54 Galvanized Wooden legs 49keys gold lacquer 81-B Yamabiko F6-F54 Galvanized Metallic pipe 49keys gold lacquer chrome gold 96 Seseragi C1-C49 Duralumin Wooden legs 49keys gold lacquer 121 Ojika C1-F54 Brass Metallic pipe 54keys chrome gold chrome gold 124 Mejika C1-C49 Duralumin Wooden legs 49keys gold lacquer 1) 1947 2) Daisy Xylophone model-1 3) F18-A46 2 1/3 octave 4) 650!240!60 5) Magnolia hypoleuca 6) Not available (This photo was taken from the archives in Kuroiso) 1) 1949 2) Miyakawa Marimba model-1 3) F18-F45 3 octave 4) 1030!600!830 5) Betula schmidtii regel 6) Wooden sectional legs 1) 1949 2) Not available 3) F-F 3 octave 4) Not available 5) Not available 6) Not available 1) Not available 2) Tohnekko 3) F18-F54 3 octave 4) 1140!545!760~840 5) Not available 6) Not available 1) Not available 2) Model 81-A Yamabiko 3) F6-F54 4 octave 4) 1420!720!875 5) Not available 6) Not available 1) Not available 2) Model 81-B Yamabiko 3) F6-F54 4 octave 4) 1420!720!875 5) Not available 6) Not available 1) 1961 2) Not available 3) C-C 4 octave 4) Not available 5) Not available 6) Not available 1) Not available 2) Not available 3) Not available 4) Not available 5) Not available 6) Not available 2: Mizuno Marimba 1) Not available 2) Not available 3) 5 1/2 octave 4) Not available 5) Rosewood 6) Aluminum pipe 1) Not available 2) Made in 1996 - 1998 3) 5 1/2 octave 4) Not available 5) Rosewood 6) Aluminum pipe This was the last model made by Mizuno Marimba. 3: YAMAHA Corporation 1) 1949 2) Model-160 3) Natural Tone 16-note 4) Not available 5) Not available 6) Not available 1) 1949 2) Model-195 3) F-C 2 1/2 octave 4) Not available 5) Not available 6) Not available 1) 1971 2) YM-400C 3) C28-C76 4 octave 4) 1840!830!880 5) Honduran rosewood 6) Light gold aluminum alloy pipes with acrylic fired coating Adjustable height capability 1) 1971 2) YM-4000 3) C28-C76 4 octave 4) 2060!860!890 5) Honduran rosewood 6) Flash gold aluminum alloy treated pipes Adjustable height capability 1) 1971 2) YM-4500 3) C28-C76 4 octave 4) 2060!860!890 5) Honduran rosewood 6) Flash gold aluminum alloy treated pipes Adjustable height capability 1) 1978 2) YM-380 3) C28-C76 4 octave 4) 1820!830!880 5) Honduran rosewood 6) Not available 1) 1978 2) YM-5000 3) F21-C76 4 1/2 octave 4) 2240!1050!880 5) Honduran rosewood 6) Flash gold aluminum alloy treated pipes The first 4 1/2 octave marimba in the world. 1) 1982 2) YX-30E 3) C52-C88 3 octave 4) 1060!550!820 5) Betula schmidtii regel African padoauk 6) Not available 1) 1982 2) YM-35E 3) C28-F69 3 1/2 octave 4) 1530!800!850 5) African padoauk 6) Not available 1) 1987 2) YM-6000 3) C16-C76 5 octave 4) 2750!1160!900 5) Premium Honduran rosewood 6) Light gold aluminum alloy pipes with acrylic fired coating L-type and U-type lower pipes (C16-F33) with argon welding and resonance regulators under the pipes The first 5 octave marimba in the world 1) 1987 2) YM-2300 3) A25-C76 4 1/3 octave 4) 1970!880!890~970 5) FRP, brown urethane coating 6) Light gold aluminum alloy pipes Acrylic fired coating Sold in the U.S. first. Now this model is called YM- 460 in Japan, YM-2400 in the U.S. 1) 1999 2) YM-5100 3) C16-C76 5 octave 4) 2610!1030!860~1010 5) Premium Honduran rosewood 6) Light gold aluminum alloy pipes with acrylic fired coating with resonance regulators under the lower pipes (While striking the bars, the sound can be adjusted for optimal resonance.) 1) 2008 2) YM-6100 3) C16-C76 5 octave 4) 2750!1160!880~1020 5) Honduran rosewood 6) Not available 4: Saito Gakki Seisakusyo Co., Ltd. 1) 1965 2) D-14 3) F57-C88 2 1/2 octave 4) Not available 5) Zelkova 6) Not available 1) 1965 2) D-18 3) C52-C88 3 octave 4) Not available 5) Zelkova 6) Not available 1) 1965 2) No.21 3) 1050!520!780 4) C52-C88 3 octave 5) Birch 6) With legs and pipes 1) 1965 2) No.36 3) C40-F81 3 1/2 octave 4) 1330!620!780 5) Birch 6) With height adjustment 1) 1965 2) No.250 3) F33-F81 4 octave 4) 1580!680!820 5) Birch 6) For concerts. Possible to disassemble and fit into cases. 1) 1965 2) No.280 3) C28-C76 4 octave 4) 1850!850!820 5) Birch 6) The largest model for concerts. Brass pipes and chromium- plated legs. Frame and pipes can be folded in half and subdivided into 15 parts. 1) 1973 2) MS-75 3) C28-C76 4 octave 4) 1667!750!890 5) Honduran rosewood 6) Gold-plated pipes The body is covered with black leather. Possible to disassemble and fit into cases. The angle-cut pipes can be folded in half. 1) 1975 2) MS-35 3) C28-C76 4 octave 4) 1600!730!820 5) Honduran rosewood 6) Gold-plated pipes The body is covered with black leather. 1) 1979 2) MS-100 3) C28-F81 4 1/2 octave 4) 2113!790!890 5) Honduran rosewood 6) Gold-plated pipes The body is covered with black leather. Auxiliary pipes are adopted for more overtone sounds. 1) 1984 2) MS-200 3) A25-C76 4 1/3 octave 4) 2120!820!890 5) Honduran rosewood 6) Aluminum alloy pipes The body is covered with black leather. Auxiliary pipes are adopted for more overtone sounds. 1) 1988 2) MS-3800 3) F21-C76 4 oct. 1/2 4) 2290!900!865 5) High-grade Honduran rosewood 6) Gold acrylic coating Elliptic cut pipes with low range The body is covered with brown leather.
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