T. Kurosawa & Co.

What T. Kurosawa & Co. does

T. Kurosawa & Co. (株式会社黒澤楽器店, Kurosawa Gakki) is a privately held Japanese musical instrument retailer founded in 1957 and headquartered in Toshima, Tokyo, with 251-500 employees. The company operates a multi-channel retail business combining 15+ physical storefronts across five major Japanese metros (Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka), an e-commerce platform (shop.kurosawagakki.com), and several category-specialized sub-brands: Kurosawa Violin (string instruments), Kurosawa Wind (woodwind and brass), Kurosawa Bass Center, Kurosawa Classic Guitar, Doctor Sound (acoustic/folk), and Drum Connection. It also operates KAIKURO, an instrument buyback and trade-in service offering in-store, mail-in, and door-to-door valuation, plus Kurosawa Music School for music lessons and a recurring calendar of artist clinics and festivals including the triennial Ochanomizu Grand Instrument Festival and the annual Sax Labo Fes.

The company's core technical assets include an in-house instrument repair workshop, the recently deployed PLEK computer-controlled fret-leveling service for precision guitar setup, and long-standing exclusive Japanese distribution rights for premium international brands including C.F. Martin Guitars (via Martin Club Japan, established 1989), Hofner (Germany), Orange Amps (UK), Kamaka Ukulele (Hawaii), DEAN Guitars, FISHMAN, Yamaha Custom EX, and Jose Ramirez. Recent product launches include the Japan-first Kamaka Kukui ukulele series (April 2025), Orange Amps BABY Series amplifiers, Orange x Ed Sheeran Outlowd ES collaboration, and a limited Martin x SEIKO anniversary timepiece (350 units).

The revenue model is multi-stream: (1) one-time retail sales through physical stores and e-commerce across instrument categories; (2) KAIKURO trade-in purchases resold through in-house refurbishment; (3) repair and adjustment services including PLEK; (4) music school tuition fees; and (5) wholesale distribution margins on imported international brands. Customer base is long-tail individual musicians — professionals, amateurs, and students — with no disclosed enterprise concentration. GTM is direct-to-consumer via physical retail and owned e-commerce, supported by an active social presence including 30+ X (Twitter) accounts, an official LINE account, and a YouTube channel. The founder family retains control: Tomohiro Kurosawa serves as Founder, President and CEO.

Name

T. Kurosawa & Co.

Legal name

株式会社黒澤楽器店

Website

https://kurosawagakki.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

T. Kurosawa & Co. (Kurosawa Gakki) is a privately held, 1957-founded Japanese musical instrument retailer operating 15+ specialty stores across Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka, plus e-commerce, instrument buyback, repair, music school, and exclusive Japanese distribution for premium brands including Martin, Hofner, Orange Amps, and Kamaka.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instrument Retail

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra) (CRALAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instrument & Pro Audio Retail (Online/Brick-and-Mortar) (MPAIAJAH), Instrument Repair, Maintenance & Luthier Services (CRALAEAF), Instrument Accessories & Consumables Retail (Strings, Reeds, Sticks, Cables) (CRALAEAE)

Keywords

• Musical instrument retail
• Guitar store Japan
• Violin specialty shop
• Instrument repair services
• Music school lessons

Headquarters

HQ city

Toshima

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Musical Instrument Retail Sales: Brick-and-mortar and e-commerce sales of musical instruments including guitars, basses, violins, wind instruments, and accessories across multiple specialized store formats
2. Instrument Trade-in and Buyback (KAIKURO): Purchase of used instruments through in-store, mail-in, or door-to-door assessment, leveraging in-house repair capabilities
3. Repair Services: In-house repair workshop for guitar and instrument maintenance, enabling adjustment and restoration services
4. Music School (クロサワ音楽教室): Music education classes offered at dedicated school facilities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

T. Kurosawa & Co. (クロサワ楽器店) is a Japanese musical instrument retailer that sells guitars, basses, violins, wind instruments, drums, percussion, ukuleles, and accessories through physical stores across Japan and an online storefront. It complements retail with in-house instrument repair services, the KAIKURO instrument buyback/trade-in program, the PLEK precision fret-leveling service, and the Kurosawa Music School offering lessons.

Product overview

T. Kurosawa & Co. (Kurosawa Gakki) operates a multi-channel musical instrument retail business in Japan, comprising physical store locations, a dedicated e-commerce platform, and specialized sub-brands across instrument categories. The core offering includes physical retail stores (Ochanomizu Ekimae, G-CLUB Tokyo, Doctor Sound, Drum Connection, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Machida, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka Umeda, Fukuoka Tenjin, and others) and the Kurosawa Online Store. Specialized sub-brands include Kurosawa Violin (string instruments), Kurosawa Wind (wind instruments), Kurosawa Classic Guitar (classical guitars), Kurosawa Bass Center (basses), Doctor Sound (acoustic/classical guitars and folk instruments), Drum Connection (drums/percussion), and G-CLUB stores (guitars and effects). Complementary services include KAIKURO (instrument trade-in/buyback), in-house repair services, PLEK precision guitar setup, and Kurosawa Music School lessons. Kurosawa also distributes branded products from principal manufacturers including Hofner (Germany), Orange Amps (UK), C.F. Martin Guitars (USA), Kamaka (Hawaii), and many other international brands listed as distributor brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KAIKURO (カイクロ): Instrument purchasing and trade-in service operated by Kurosawa Gakki
• Kurosawa Music School (クロサワ音楽教室)

Products and services

• Physical and Online Musical Instrument Retail Stores Multi-channel retail of musical instruments including electric guitars, acoustic guitars, classical guitars, basses, ukuleles, wind instruments, drums, percussion, DJ/PA equipment, keyboards, and related accessories, sold through more than 15 specialized physical stores and an e-commerce platform targeted at individual musicians in Japan.
• Kurosawa Violin Speciality Stores Specialized string instrument retail chain selling violins, violas, cellos, double basses, electric violins, bows, strings, and accessories, with dedicated stores in Shibuya, Ochanomizu, Ikebukuro, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka Umeda, plus string instrument repair services targeted at classical string players from students to professionals.
• Kurosawa Wind Speciality Stores Specialized wind instrument retail selling saxophones, clarinets, flutes, oboes, trumpets, trombones, horns, and wind instrument accessories, with dedicated stores in Ochanomizu, Yokohama, and Nagoya, plus instrument maintenance and repair services for woodwind and brass players.
• Kurosawa Classic Guitar Specialty Specialized classical guitar retail and expertise, including Spanish classical guitars (e.g., Jose Ramirez) and related accessories, targeted at classical guitar players.
• Kurosawa Bass Center Electric and acoustic bass guitar specialty retail with dedicated inventory and specialized staff expertise, targeted at bass players across Japan.
• KAIKURO Instrument Buyback and Trade-in Service Instrument purchasing service offering in-store, mail-in, and door-to-door valuation and acquisition of used instruments, leveraging Kurosawa's in-house repair workshop to enable higher trade-in valuations for musicians upgrading or selling instruments.
• PLEK Precision Guitar Setup Service PLEK computer-controlled machining service for precision guitar setup and fret leveling, available at Kurosawa stores, providing professional-grade fretwork for guitar players.
• In-House Instrument Repair Services In-house repair and adjustment services for musical instruments including guitar setup, string instrument repair, and wind instrument maintenance, supporting musicians across Kurosawa's store network.
• Kurosawa Music School Music lesson services offered at dedicated Kurosawa Music School facilities, providing music education to learners of varying ages and skill levels at Kurosawa's locations.
• Hofner Musical Instrument Distribution Japanese distribution and official website operation for Hofner (Germany) musical instruments including basses, electric guitars, classical guitars, acoustic guitars, ukuleles (e.g., the H-UKU-BB-0 Violin Ukulele at JPY 55,000), accessories, and parts, including the Green Line eco-friendly series and Ignition series.
• Orange Amps Product Distribution Distribution of UK-made Orange Amplification guitar and bass amplifiers in Japan through Kurosawa, including the Crush series, Baby series, and the collaborative Orange Outlowd ES series with Ed Sheeran.
• C.F. Martin Guitars Distribution (Martin Club Japan) Official Japan distribution of American C.F. Martin acoustic guitars through the Martin Club Japan official site, including the Martin Guitar Watch collaboration with SEIKO.
• Kamaka Ukulele Distribution Distribution of Hawaiian Kamaka ukuleles in Japan, including the new Kukui series launched in April 2025 ahead of worldwide release.
• Saxophone Lab Festival (Saki Labo Fes) Annual saxophone specialty store event featuring try-outs, adjustments, and exclusive products across 10 days each summer, organized by Kurosawa's Sax Labo saxophone specialty division.
• Ochanomizu Grand Instrument Festival Large-scale triennial musical instrument festival held at the Ochanomizu area, featuring sales, events, and artist appearances, with the 8th edition announced.

Quantifiable outcome

• Active employee promotion program with 5 staff promoted in 2025

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• C.F. Martin GuitarscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial distributor for Martin brand guitars in Japan through Martin Club Japan.
• HofnercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapanese distributor and official website operator for Hofner musical instruments including guitars, basses, and ukuleles. Manages dedicated Hofner Japan website.
• Orange AmpsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Orange Amplification products including guitar and bass amplifiers.
• Kamaka UkulelemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Kamaka Ukulele products including exclusive Japan releases like the Kukui series.
• DEAN GuitarsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial distributor for Dean Guitars products in Japan.
• FISHMANmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Fishman pickup systems and acoustic amplification products.
• Jose RamirezminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish classical guitar maker - distributed through Kurosawa Classic Guitar division.
• BrianMay GuitarsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Brian May Guitars signature instruments.
• Hofner (Green Line Series)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of environmentally conscious instruments using European woods instead of traditional exotic tonewoods, avoiding plastics in construction.
• Yamaha (Custom EX)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer and event host for Yamaha Custom EX wind instruments with regular try-out sessions at Sax Labo stores.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sweetwater: US-based leading omnichannel musical instrument retailer renowned for expert sales engineers, in-house repair/pro setup, and trade-in programs. Highly comparable business model to Kurosawa in combining curated retail, technical service, and content-driven customer engagement.
• Andertons Music Co. UK-based omnichannel musical instrument retailer combining physical stores with a large YouTube/online presence, strong brand-distributor relationships, and expert staff. Closely comparable in service-led omnichannel model and content marketing approach.
• Yamano Music (山野楽器): Long-established Japanese musical instrument retailer (founded 1891) selling pianos, classical strings, wind instruments, and electronic gear across multiple Tokyo-area locations. Direct domestic peer in heritage, instrument-category breadth, and physical-retail-led model.
• Ishibashi Music (石橋楽器店): Japan's largest multi-store musical instrument retailer, operating physical stores and online sales across guitars, basses, drums, classical, and wind instruments. Directly comparable to Kurosawa in product breadth, sub-brand depth, and Japanese omnichannel retail model.

Broad incumbents

• Sam Ash: Historically prominent US musical instrument retail chain offering instruments, gear, and lessons across multiple categories. Comparable multi-store, multi-category retail model, though the brand is materially diminished following its 2024 bankruptcy and store closures.
• Guitar Center: US-based large-format musical instrument retail chain with broad assortment, in-store lessons, and used gear programs. Comparable in retail-format and service mix, though focused on guitar/bass/drums rather than the classical/orchestra specialization that defines Kurosawa's identity.
• Thomann: Europe's largest online musical instrument retailer, shipping globally with an enormous catalog across guitars, pro audio, and orchestral instruments. Comparable scale and omnichannel reach; represents the cross-border competitive pressure facing Japan's domestic retailers.

Emerging players

• Reverb: Online marketplace for new, used, and vintage musical instruments and gear, owned by Etsy. Comparable to Kurosawa's KAIKURO buyback model in facilitating used-instrument circulation, and represents the marketplace-driven disruption of traditional instrument retail.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Kurosawa_shop
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/kurosawaonlineTV/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/kurosawa.shopinfo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about T. Kurosawa & Co.