Headway Guitars is releasing a steady stream of limited-edition and new models! [Deviser Special Showcase 2026]
At the Deviser Special Showcase 2026, the acoustic guitar brand Headway Guitars is also scheduled to announce new products and limited-edition models.
In addition to our limited-edition models featuring Sakura wood, a popular Japanese wood that has become synonymous with our brand, we plan to showcase a wide range of highlights, including the highly cost-effective Japan Tune-up Series and the pinnacle of Headway craftsmanship, crafted by custom shop builders Yasui and Furihata.
Here, we’re giving you a sneak peek at just a few highlights from the packed lineup!!
The pinnacle of Headway: A custom shop run by two master builders
Masato Yasui, known for his bold yet delicate guitar craftsmanship
Masato Yasui began his career as a professional guitar maker in earnest in 2002. After serving as the leader of the Aska Team Build Series, he now works as Technical Director, driving the development of the entire brand. The guitars crafted by Yasui are masterpieces that could be described as the “Next Generation of Headway”, bringing to life flexible thinking and innovative ideas that break free from conventional boundaries.
For this Deviser Special Showcase, we have crafted three custom shop models. The lineup features a variety of materials that showcase Yasui’s signature style, distinct from traditional Headway guitars, as well as innovative masterpieces. Yasui, known for his expertise in creating unique, cutting-edge instruments, selected these materials specifically to create models brimming with vintage charm that are sure to impress both viewers and players alike.
Arata Furihata, a master of crafting guitars that blend classic style with a unique touch
Since joining the company in 2009, he has been involved in the production of the Headway Standard series. After handling tasks ranging from material preparation to processing, he moved on to the electric guitar manufacturing process before returning to acoustic guitar production. He has received direct guidance from Yasuo Momose and Masato Yasui, and now serves as the de facto production leader for the Aska Team Build series.
For this Deviser Special Showcase, Furihata has created a lineup featuring models with cutaways designed with the player in mind, such as the Elbow Contour, as well as supreme models crafted in luxurious styles. True to Furihata’s signature Headway guitar-making style, yet carefully crafted with touches of his own unique flair, anticipation is high for these guitars that are brimming with Furihata’s distinctive character.
Yasui’s The Five × 80’s: An Encounter with Sitka Spruce
At this Deviser Special Showcase, Yasui isn’t just showcasing his own custom shop.
The Aska Team Build series will also feature a model personally supervised by Yasui, combining the evolved Headway “The Five” with “80’s Sitka Spruce” that has been naturally air-dried since the 1980s. The Sitka spruce, which has taken on a slightly amber hue over the years, produces a rich, resonant tone. This masterpiece is crafted by combining this wood with the characteristics of The Five, incorporating practical elements such as fine-tuning optimized based on Yasui’s experience and a twist-stress neck, a signature feature of Yasui’s designs.
It’s almost here! Summer is just around the corner!
Sakura Guitars incorporates the changing seasons into its designs. At the Deviser Special Showcase, the “Summer Sakura”—inspired by summer—will make its debut.
The theme of the 2026 Summer Sakura Model in the Aska Team Build series is fireflies. It combines their beautiful yet fleeting form with the image of cherry blossoms. It also features a special mechanism that brings the fireflies to life, making this release something to look forward to.
The 2026 Summer Cherry Blossom model from the Standard series features a woman holding a traditional Japanese umbrella on the headstock. The color scheme is designed to evoke the image of watching fireworks blooming like cherry blossoms and a summer evening with the sun setting against a blue sky.
A Natural Landscape Created by Birds: “Rikugo Sakura-senkyo”
The Aska Team Build series features other Sakura wood models, including this one, which features the rare “Azuki Cherry” in the center of the body back.
This model, crafted from wood famous for its sparse, scattered grain pattern, is inspired by a famous cherry blossom spot in our hometown: “Rikugo Sakura Senkyo” in Ikeda Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Rikugo Sakura-senkyo is a famous cherry blossom spot said to have been created by birds carrying seeds, and it is a unique destination where cherry blossoms bloom in scattered clusters across the mountains. This model was designed by combining this scenery with the grain pattern of the Azuki cherry wood. Often referred to as “Yoshino in the West, Rikugo in the East,” Headway produced a model featuring Yoshino’s Thousand Cherry Trees last year; in other words, this model has a story that makes it a perfect companion to that one.
A city that suits cherry blossoms: Cherry blossoms from Kyoto Prefecture
The final model in Headway’s cherry blossom series is the “Kyoto Sakura” model, which uses cherry wood sourced from Kyoto, a city that would likely be among the top answers if asked, “Name a city you associate with cherry blossoms.”
With the purple of the ancient capital of Kyoto as the theme color and opulent gold accents throughout, the inlay work features a solemn motif, the flow of the Kamo River, and the weeping cherry blossoms that are synonymous with Kyoto. We have also incorporated materials we haven’t used before, such as thin brass lines in the gold accents on the pickguard.
The soundhole cover and soundhole label feature an original woven fabric design created in collaboration with “Tatenoya” of “Kyori,” a brand derived from Kyoto’s Nishijin-ori. When we first set out to create the Kyōzakura model in 2024, we wanted to spark a creative synergy with Kyoto’s traditional culture, which led us to “Kyōori,” a brand that leverages the techniques of Nishijin-ori. We were drawn to the originality born from the weavers’ playful spirit and their unconventional, free-thinking approach, embodied by the motto “We’ll weave anything that can be woven”, and this shared vision gave rise to our collaboration. The result is a guitar that offers a unique tactile experience with fabric unlike anything found on a standard guitar.
That legendary machine makes a comeback in the Japan Tune-up Series
The legendary “HJ-BOOGIE”, which was once part of the Headway Aska Team Build series and other lineups, is making a long-awaited comeback in the Japan Tune-up series.
Featuring distinctive color schemes and custom bindings, this model boasts a striking design that includes block inlays and a headstock inlay paying homage to Headway’s founding year, 1977. It also comes standard with a preamp, making it a practical choice for live performances.
Take a moment to relax, enjoy this cup of coffee during your break
Models made in limited quantities tend to be extremely popular, and that’s exactly the case with models made from “coffee tree” wood.
Unlike the coffee trees we use for drinking coffee, this wood is called “coffee tree” because it was used as a coffee substitute by early American settlers.
The design incorporates playful touches, such as a coffee bean inlay, and is available in two colors: Black and Café Latte. Of course, it’s not just a matter of changing the color—the internal bracing structure is also selected specifically for each color, so that the crispness of Black and the warmth of Café Latte are reflected in the sound as well.
The models featured in this blog post will be fully unveiled at the Deviser Special Showcase on May 22!
We’ll be posting the latest updates on Deviser’s official social media channels, so be sure to check them out and stay tuned!
The special website for the “Deviser Special Showcase 2026”, launching on Friday, May 22 at 6:00 PM, will feature over 200 limited-edition models and new products. Until the event begins, we are releasing teaser information about the products on the preview page below.
