It appears Fender Japan is going through some changes, and is even rumoured to cease to exist. I've heard mixed stories so far, but the most prevalent story is their Japanese distributor is ending the relationship between Fender Japan and themselves. What this means for Fender Japan is, at least so far, uncertain.
Here's the most plausible explanation I've read so far:
Quote:
Ok... I have an employee who is a Japanese national, and also a guitar player. I asked him what this says. He says that this website is not Fender Japan's website, but that it is Kanda Shokai's website. He explains that Kanda Shokai is the distributor for Fender Japan. A lot of Japanese retail has a distributor between the manufacturer and the retailer. Kanda Shokai Was this.
So, if I understand this correctly, Fender Japan provided the designs, secured the manufacturing, and delivered the product. Kanda Shokai would handle retail orders, as well as the marketing of the guitars, collecting some percentage for this service. This relationship is ending. It does not seem that Fender Japan is (necessarily) going away, but the relationship between Kanda Shokai and Fender Japan is ending. The website for Kanda Shokai's Fender Japan marketing was www.fenderjapan.co.jp, where they are referring traffic to look to www.fender.co.jp, which has nothing on it now, but is implied to be the new website of Fender Japan.
So... To recap:
-We know that www.fenderjapan.co.jp is the website of Kanda Shokai
-We know that Fender Japan and Kana Shokai are parting company
-We think that www.fender.co.jp is a future website for Fender Japan info
-We don't know if there is a new distributor coming into the business
-We don't know if Fender Japan is going out of business, or reducing its offerings, or if all will pick up again, with some different parties at the helm.
..all I got right now...
So, if I understand this correctly, Fender Japan provided the designs, secured the manufacturing, and delivered the product. Kanda Shokai would handle retail orders, as well as the marketing of the guitars, collecting some percentage for this service. This relationship is ending. It does not seem that Fender Japan is (necessarily) going away, but the relationship between Kanda Shokai and Fender Japan is ending. The website for Kanda Shokai's Fender Japan marketing was www.fenderjapan.co.jp, where they are referring traffic to look to www.fender.co.jp, which has nothing on it now, but is implied to be the new website of Fender Japan.
So... To recap:
-We know that www.fenderjapan.co.jp is the website of Kanda Shokai
-We know that Fender Japan and Kana Shokai are parting company
-We think that www.fender.co.jp is a future website for Fender Japan info
-We don't know if there is a new distributor coming into the business
-We don't know if Fender Japan is going out of business, or reducing its offerings, or if all will pick up again, with some different parties at the helm.
..all I got right now...
I don't know the source, I've only seen it quoted on another forum.
It would SUCK if they do call it quits. Where else are we lefties going to get cool vintage reissue Fenders and non-standard colours? So fingers crossed!
