FUJIGEN started production in 1960 under the name , making
violins and
classical guitars. In 1962, Fuji started production of
electric guitars. In the 1970s, Fuji started making
OEM guitars for companies such as
Hoshino Gakki (
Ibanez), 1970's UK importers, Arbiter, Charles Summerfield Ltd (Ibanez, CSL, Cimar & Sumbro) and J.T Coppock (Antoria) Kanda Shokai (
Greco guitars) and
Yamaha. In 1977–78, Fuji entered a joint venture with
Roland to produce
guitar synthesizers. In 1981, Fuji opted out of
acoustic guitar production to mainly concentrate on
solid body guitar production. Fuji obtained a
CNC router in mid 1981 for making guitar parts and also began to manufacture their own
pickups starting in late 1981. In 1981–82, Fuji obtained the
Fender Japan contract which lasted until 1996–97 and in 1983 Fuji were producing 14,000 guitars a month with 80% of the guitars being made for export markets and 20% being made for Japanese domestic markets. In 1989,
Fuji Gengakki Seizō re-branded, officially adopting the name FUJIGEN. In mid/late 1992, FUJIGEN obtained a part of the
Orville by Gibson contract which ended in 1998 and from then on have made
Epiphone Japan solid body guitars, some
Gretsch models and their own branded FGN guitars. FUJIGEN still manufactures OEM guitars for companies like Ibanez and Epiphone but in much smaller quantities than in the past. FUJIGEN has three factories: the Omachi factory in
Omachi, the Hirooka factory (established around 1992) in
Shiojiri and the Matsumoto head office factory in
Matsumoto. In the mid-2010s FUJIGEN began producing rosewood interior elements in some
Mazda vehicles. == See also ==