Tombo Harmonica
All Your Life, with the Old Maker

Date：02, Feb, 2017
Investigated and Written by Misaka Youhei
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I wonder what musical instrument you get to touch first after born in Japan. Maybe some parents try to make their children learn piano or violin on special education. Usually, however, most children are considered to do harmonicas first.

Let me mention about my case for a while. I was born and have grown up in Osaka, Japan. I got a harmonica as soon as joined an elementary school because it was one of education instruments. My unclear memories say I had a recorder instead of a harmonica when I was 8 or 9 years old...

Some might say mouth organs are a musical instrument for children. Lately, however, it's been used in pop music and rock. Moreover, it's said old people have also learnt harmonicas for a mouth practice, training of respiratory organs, and their leisure activity.

It means mouth organs are no more limited for children. We, old and young, can play and enjoy. Now, when an adult want a musical instrument, we tend to feel satisfied with having one produced by an old-established maker, don't we?

Tombo is a Japanese harmonica maker of long standing, that've manufactured harmonicas since their establishment in 1917. Printed as "Made in China" on a part of their products. They say that they produce reeds, the most important part of harmonicas, in nowhere but their Saitama factory. And all the products are checked in Japan before out. Therefore, its quality is just the same as ones made in Japan.