Rittor Music [Scheduled for release on September 11th] Guitar Magazine October 2026 issue

◉Cover / FEATURED GUITARISTS

A comprehensive feature celebrating Masayoshi Takanaka's 50th solo debut: The guitar instrumentals of eternal summer that the world is now raving about.

Masayoshi Takanaka is currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity both domestically and internationally.
As they celebrate their 50th anniversary, their live performances across the country are a great success, and songs created half a century ago are being discovered by young listeners overseas through social media and streaming services, spreading their enthusiasm worldwide.
What's particularly astonishing is that, despite being instrumental guitar music without vocals, the audience is humming along to the melodies and singing along—a phenomenon unprecedented in this day and age.

Why is Masayoshi Takanaka's guitar playing being sung about so much now, and why is it having such a profound impact on the contemporary music scene?
Furthermore, it's interesting that this music transcends the contexts of J-fusion and city pop, and is embraced by a wide range of people with their own interpretations.
Above all, Takana's music possesses a captivating, tropical allure that evokes the sea and the tropics, and perhaps that is one of the reasons why his guitar music remains so memorable across generations.

In this special feature, we will thoroughly unravel its secrets from a guitar perspective.
Based on a recent interview with the artist himself, this book takes a multifaceted approach, incorporating valuable archival articles from 1981, analysis of his equipment, sound and playing style, and his influence on contemporary musicians both domestically and internationally.
Transcending time, borders, and genres, we delve into the true identity of TAKANAKA, who is once again captivating the world.

・Introduction ~ Masamichi Torii's interpretation: Why Masayoshi Takanaka now?
• Biography ~ 50 years from debut to rediscovery on the world stage • Interview ~ Masayoshi Takanaka
• Gear ~ TAKANAKA's iconic guitars • Column 1 ~ Dr. Funkshitteru's analysis of the magic of TAKANAKA in the modern funk world that captivated Cory Wong • Discography ~ 15 early solo albums you should listen to now • Archive Interview ~ First interview in this magazine in 1981
Column 2 - A study of the impactful guitar sound of the legendary 1981 Budokan live performance, 'RAINBOW GOBLINS STORY'.
Column 3 - A look at the latest Takanaka sound - Special Interview - Zeng Guohong (Sunset Rollercoaster): Takanaka from an Asian perspective
・Special Cross Talk ~Yuji Toriyama x Yosuke Shimonaka~ Column 4 ~Now is the time to look back on the golden age of J-Fusion~ Playing Analysis ~Unraveling Masayoshi Takanaka's guitar manners through 5 topics~ The secrets to making the guitar sing are fully revealed!~
- The hands of guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka

◉THE INSTRUMENTS

Nippon no Elekijin 2026
An interview with a unique builder and a key figure from a Japanese brand about their guitar-making journey.

Japan was once a major producer of guitars.
In the 1960s, they delivered inexpensive guitars to various countries through OEM production, and in the 1970s, they catered to the hearts of guitar-loving kids with imitations of coveted USA-made guitars.
As the economy developed, mass production of guitars shifted to other Asian countries. However, Japan's guitar-making culture has matured, and there are many models that boast a quality comparable to famous overseas brands.
This time, we'll be focusing on these meticulously crafted Japanese boutique guitars, introducing each brand's original models and the builders' production philosophies.
I hope you'll take the time to appreciate the individual guitar journeys of the makers who created these guitars, and find your own unique electric guitar.

・Caramel's Guitar Kitchen Takeshi Katada ・dragonfly Tatsuaki Totani ・Euphoreal Kunihiro Fujino ・Flur Guitars Yu Watanabe ・Four Spirals Basses & Guitars Tomoya Yoshida ・Freedom Custom Guitar Research Makoto Fukano ・Infinite Satoshi Hatta ・Kz Guitar Works Takatoshi Ijuin ・Mary Guitars Yuki Marui ・Nishgaki Guitars/Collectera Yuki Nishigaki ・Providence Shozo Shimura ・Red House Guitars Ryoichi Ishibashi ・SAITO GUITARS Otohito Soma ・stilblu Hiroyuki Yamada ・STR Guitars Satoru Yatsuka ・Style-S-Guitar Shigekiyo Morita ・T's Guitars Eiji Kanazawa

◉INTERVIEW & GEAR
Cornelius

◉INTERVIEW
Mark Speer (Khruangbin)

◉EVENT REPORT
PLAY CATCH - Village 2026

◉OPENING ACT
・Taiki Miura (Layla)

◉PICKUP
・'Guitar magazine Archives Vol.9 John Frusciante' is now on sale!
Interview ~ PRS Guitars' new CEO Jack Higginbotham and Negi Shio Butadon meets Positive Grid Spark LIVE

◉Series: Inspired by the Fender Custom Shop - Tomo Fujita's guitar doesn't sound good in a day!
Dive to Neo Soul by Toshiki Soejima
- Torii Masamichi's exploration of roots throughout history and across cultures, Sakiyama Soshi's encounter with the unknown, and more.

◉NEW PRODUCTS REVIEW
・FENDER / MADE IN JAPAN LIMITED ACTIVE MODERN STRATOCASTER
・EPIPHONE / BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG LES PAUL JUNIOR
・PRS / JON JOURDAN LIMITED EDITION
・POSITIVE GRID / SPARK PEDAL
・UMBRELLA COMPANY / HUME
・HOTONE / PULZE JR
・PLAYTECH / GX121C CELESTION SPEAKER CABINET

◉ Bonus booklet: "GM SELECTIONS Special: Awakening the South Wind! Five Tropical Fusion Selections by Masayoshi Takao"
・"Tokyo Reggie"
・"Ready to Fly"
・"Blue Lagoon"
・"Thunder Storm"
・"Saudade"