I’m a fan of old Suzuki violins made in early 1900’s. When I started looking for my personal instrument, I assumed that old Japanese violins were good because the Japanese pianos made in 1950’s and 1960’s are really nice from my experience as a piano technician.
My expectation was not quite accurate with the historical fact, but there was a golden age of Japanese violins. That’s around 1900’s that my favorite violins were made.
The book introduces how he was involved in the world of making violins. He learned everything without a mentor. He had a good craftsman ship and business management skills. His company grew to a huge manufacturer of violin making.
The changing times have created business opportunities, but conversely, they have also been abandoned by the times. But Masakichi’s craftsmanship was real and never spoiled. He was a great violin maker until the last day of his life.
There was not much technical information of the violin making in the book but it’s enough to encourage a man like me who has no apprenticeship by a master maker nor a school diploma, with the way he worked and his activities.