HD-SHIKIZAKURA’26/ATB

Introduction

The 2026 “Sakura × Autumn Leaves” model features the Four-season Sakura of Obara as its motif

A Scene of Four-Season Sakura Blossoms, Autumn Foliage, and the Moon Against the Night Sky

The 2026 Four-season Sakura model is designed with the theme of “the night sky.” The top of the headstock features a scene of four-season Sakura blossoms and autumn leaves glowing under the moonlight, setting the stage for a picturesque autumn night.
Obara is an area in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, where Sakura trees that bloom all year long converge with the unique orange colors of autumn foliage, and that we use as our inspiration for our Four-season Sakura models.

Our Commitment to Using Four-season Sakura Wood

The Sakura-themed inlay is made from actual branches from Four-season Sakura trees, which were donated by the Obara Tourism Association after the trees were trimmed.
While we have often used local Sakura wood for the bodies of our regional Sakura models in the past, our approach to the Four-season Sakura models has primarily focused on incorporating it into the design itself. “Is there a way we can actually use Four-season Sakura wood somewhere?” It was with this thought in mind that the inlay crafted from the donated branches became a design element that breathes life into the very essence of the Four-season Sakura grown in Obara.

Depicting the lighting that illuminates the Four-Season Sakura Blossoms

The pickguard features a design depicting the Four Seasons Cherry Blossoms and autumn foliage illuminated by the colorful lights of the city. Unlike the Four Seasons Cherry Blossoms seen under the soft sunlight of day, each petal of the illuminated blossoms stands out more vividly and fantastically at night. The design captures a one-of-a-kind scene created by combining the natural landscape with the artificial lighting crafted by human hands.

“Four-season Sakura Night Gradation”: The First-Ever Nightly Sakura Shikizakura Model

“Yozakura” (Nightly Sakura) is a popular color in the Sakura family. “Shikizakura Night Gradation” is a color created by combining Yozakura with Shikizakura (Four-season Sakura) for the first time. It captures the hues of the Four-season Sakura red blending into the deep night sky.

A woman holding a Japanese umbrella, gazing up at the Four-Season Sakura Blossoms and autumn foliage against the silent night sky

The body back features a design of a woman holding a traditional Japanese umbrella, gazing up at the Four-season Sakura cherry blossoms and autumn foliage under a deep moonlit night. The scene she gazes upon during this quiet, peaceful moment of the night evokes a sense of the changing seasons.

Red-themed decorations inspired by the Four-season Sakura

One of the essential colors for the Four-season Sakura model is “autumn red.” For the 2026 model, we are carefully selecting materials to incorporate red into various decorative elements throughout the instrument. For the body binding, we have chosen a red material featuring a turquoise-gem pattern. We have also incorporated custom-made bridge pins and end pins crafted from red wood, ensuring that the theme color, [red], is present in every detail.

Headway’s thinnest “Extra Slim U Neck”

Featuring the “Extra Slim U Neck”, which prioritizes thinness and redefines the traditional image of Headway necks. While maintaining the stability that is a hallmark of Headway necks, rigidity is further enhanced by the “High-Strength Neck” design, which incorporates carbon bars. These carbon bars not only improve stability but also minimize unwanted neck flex, allowing string vibrations to be transmitted smoothly to the top of the body, thereby enhancing expressiveness in the high register.

Semi-Forward-Shifted Bracing

Headway Master Builder Yasuo Momose studied the bracing of a 1934 vintage guitar and developed his own unique bracing system. This system features a semi-forward shift where the X-brace crosses closer to the soundhole, resulting in better low-end response and a more voluminous tone compared to a new guitar. By positioning the X-brace approximately 5mm closer to the bridge than a standard forward shift, the design also considers the stability of the top plate.