HF-KOBOREZAKURA

Introduction

Expected release date: Late July 2025
Limited to the first lot only, some of the special items will be personally signed by Osamurai.

Video

Osamuraisan’s -Koborezakura-

Based on the specifications of the late Yasuo Momose’s Headway Customshop Series Sakura guitars, Solo guitarist Osamuraisan’s favorite, this model was jointly developed by Headway and Osamuraisan, with adjustments made in various areas to make it more accessible.

Like the original guitar, a smaller body shape was adopted, and Sakura (Japanese cherry) wood was selected for the back & sides, while ebony wood with prominent stripes was chosen for the fretboard. We purposefully designed this model without a pickguard to maximize the sound quality while embracing a simpler visual design.

On the other hand, the headstock and fretboard are decorated with gorgeous white mother of pearl shell and abalone. The white mother of pearl shells depict cherry blossoms in full bloom on the headstock and their petals fluttering down through the fretboard, which is made to look like a Sakura tree trunk, to more closely express the scene of cherry blossoms that Osamuraisan envisioned.

HF-KOBOREZAKURA – Specs

Back & sides made of Japanese Sakura wood

The model name “Koborezakura” translates to “Fallen cherry blossoms”, and as the name would suggest, the back & sides of this guitar are made our of laminated Japanese Sakura wood. No coloring is applied to the wood, allowing you to directly appreciate the warm, light peach-colored grain unique to each piece of Sakura wood, which is also unique to each guitar produced.

Small body size for easy handling

With a width of 382mm and a thickness of 105mm, its smaller-than-regular body is a great fit even for smaller players. With its easy-to-press strings and smaller body, you can really relax and play in a much more comfortable manner, while still having a wide range when it comes to sound-making.
Like the HJ-OSAMURAISAN II, it uses a medium scale with a distance of 628 mm from nut to saddle. Compared to the long scale, the tension of the strings is lower, making it relatively easy to press the strings. It encourages Osamuraisan to take on the challenge of a wide range of musical expression, such as solo guitar with fingerpicking, which is his specialty.

Sharing Osamuraisan’s Ideal Sakura scenery

The headstock depicts cherry blossoms in full bloom with a warbling white-eye bird perched on top, and petals “fall down” onto the fretboard.

-Japan Tune-up Series- a high-end line-standard finish

Adjustments are made at the Deviser Assembly Department, in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, to the same standards as the high-end series. The low string action, which Osamuraisan has long emphasized the importance of, is applied to each and every one of these guitars. In addition, precise adjustments are made to the frets, nut, saddle, and other parts that greatly affect the playability and sound of the guitar, and the guitar is finished to the point that a professional guitarist can use it to play on stage as is, straight out of the box. For more information on the JT Series work process, please visit the feature site below.

Elixir® Nanoweb Extra Light Gauge

Extra-light gauge strings, which are the thinnest and have the lowest tension, are used for this model to make the strings easier to hold down when playing. It is said that the most common roadblock for beginner guitarists is the difficulty in holding down complex chords, so this addresses that issue. Osamuraisan wants all players to experience the joy of playing with a firm grip on the strings and the sense of satisfaction that comes from making progress. In addition, the groove of the nut is also filed to the exact width of this gauge.

Sakura soundhole plate

Like the backs & sides, this model includes an exclusive soundhole cover made out of Japanese Sakura wood, with a delightful design to go alongside it.

Osamuraisan’s Comments

Osamuraisan here. I am pleased to collaborate in the creation of a new Sakura guitar model. After collaborating on the creation of three signature guitars, I did’t expect to work with Deviser on yet another new model, but I’m grateful I had a chance to do so. The guitar we are working on is a Sakura guitar, a family of guitars that was originally created by the late Yasuo Momose. It is the one and only guitar that brings out the best of the Sakura’s character, and I like it very much because it is simply beautiful to look at. Since Sakura wood recently was approved for production of JT series models, we decided it was the perfect option for this new model. The model was completed after more than two years of trial and error within the limitations of mass production. As with the guitars created by Mr. Momose, the body was kept as simple as possible so that the sound could be enjoyed. This focus on simplicity is why this is a rare model in which the grain of the Sakura wood is given a natural finish and left clearly visible. We decided to make the neck stand out by not putting the characteristic Sakura pickguard on the body, which is found on other cherry guitars. “Koborezakura” refers to cherry blossoms fall down due to the tree being in full bloom and overflowing with them. The headstock is decorated with a bird that resembles a white-eye or a sparrow pecking at the nectar of the cherry blossoms. The neck likens a cherry tree trunk, and the falling petals and cherry blossoms in full bloom for a carpet at the end of it like they would at the foot of the trunk of a cherry tree. I was surprised at the finished product because I did not expect it to be so beautifully decorated. The sound is characterized by the sweetness and elegance of the midrange. The guitar is shipped with Elixir Phosphor Bronze strings, which add to the beauty of the high notes which complement the guitar as a whole. Phosphor bronze strings are a bit noisy on my everyday guitars, but for this guitar, which has a warm sound, I I feel that the high notes are complemented and the sound is more well rounded. I can honestly say that this model’s sound is great and the guitar sounds more than twice as good as what you’d expect for its price. It is the sound of a high-end guitar. Also, thanks to the attention to detail during assembly and tune-up at the Deviser Technical Center, which has grealy improved in recent years, there is almost no difference in sound from fret to fret, and even with a capo on the high frets, it makes for a really comfortable playing experience. It is easy to play, and no matter where you play it, it produces a pleasant, vibrant sound. I was really surprised with how good the results were. It may not be ready for this year’s cherry blossom season, but this Sakura guitar was grown in Japan and has a uniquely Japanese sound to it. You can enjoy a great sound at a relatively inexpensive price. I hope you get a chance to try it out with your own hands and enjoy its beauty and sound.

Feature Site