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Fender Japan Guitars:

From the early 1950’s through the late 1970’s, Fender USA had little competition in the guitar arena, in the making and
selling of their classic Stratocasters and Telecasters, among other popular models. As many people know, when the
Fender was sold in January 1965 to CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc.), things changed.

A serious amount of money was spent on advertising and sales went up drastically, which, from Fender’s perspective, was a
good thing. But, with more sales came more production, and more production meant less attention to details and a slumping
of quality-control. As Forest White (then manager of electric guitar and amplification production at Fender) put it plainly,
“Profit became paramount.”

This work ethic clashed with what musicians wanted. They were getting more poorly-made instruments as the years went
on and found they were still paying a high price for them. With the introduction of many other versions of the Strat and Tele,
and other less-popular models, guitarists started looking for alternatives to Fender guitars. They wanted the quality and
classic design of the old Fenders, but didn’t want to pay the rising collectible cost of the old 1950’s and 1960’s models.

At this time in Japan, the electric guitar was making its great debut, and Fender guitars were highly sought-after. Finding it
very difficult to acquire a real USA-made Fender, and finding it extremely expensive, a team of businessmen, guitar
enthusiasts and Japanese luthiers banded together and started the FujigenGakki guitar factory “lawsuit” division, where
they had brought in a handful of choice original 1950’s and 1960’s Fenders and dismantled them. Pickups were unwound
and studied electronically, wood core samples were taken and exact dimensions of the woods were recorded. Artists were
paid to replicate the logo designs and hardware designs. And then, finally, the Japanese started to manufacture their own
Fender replicas under the names of such companies as Greco, Fernandes, ESP, Joo Dee, Westminster, Heerby,
El Maya, and even Yamaha) so that they could enjoy what America was enjoying, but under their own terms and at their
own cost. And most importantly, these guitars were easily available from local music shops.

This went on for a number of years until it had become so popular that Fender was made aware of the situation and decided
to really take a look at what was going on in Japan. After deliberately getting their hands on a few good copies, they were
astonished (and probably really angry) about how accurate some of the copies were. Enraged at this deliberate copyright
infringement, Fender threatened a lawsuit against many of these companies in the early 1980’s, forcing them to “cease and
desist” production. Many ceased (like El Maya, Heerby, and Joo Dee), but many desisted and kept making these same
guitars with minor changes to the logos and headstock designs. And there were others who just ceased, and then just
picked up and started making them again under a different name.

All this interest in Fender’s classics and the Japanese’s successful efforts at re-introducing the famous Strat and Tele
designs from the 1950’s and 1960’s gave Fender USA a bright idea… making reissues of their OWN classics! What a
great idea! It’s a wonder nobody else thought… well, er, uh…

So, Fender (under the direction of Dan Smith at the Fullerton Plant) started to really get things going prior to 1982 so that
they could release their “vintage” line of reissue guitars, which are still being made today. Since the Japanese were already
so successful, they hired a Fender Japan team (largely made up of Greco’s designers and luthiers) to try to do what they
did best, but by changing the logo to “Fender” and putting Fender USA pickups in them. After a trial period, the USA team
decided to pay the Japanese team a visit and see how things were going. Upon completion of their trip, Dan lamented:
“Everybody came up to inspect them and the guys almost cried, because the Japanese product was so good - it was what
we had been having a hell of a time trying to do."

So, (in my personal opinion) due largely to the Japanese work ethic of leaving/accepting no room for error in their work and
their exceptional attention to detail and focused attitude, these early Fender Japan guitars (JV for Japanese Vintage) started
a successful legacy of real Fenders that continues today.

Fender Japan began in 1982 and their JV line of guitars was halted at the end of 1983. Starting in 1984, the “MIJ” (made in
Japan) decade began and continued through 1994. From 1994 until today, Fender Japan guitars are stamped with the “CIJ”
(crafted in Japan) logo. Fender “Squier” guitars were produced at the same time as the Fenders in Japan, but were made
as cheaper versions of the Fenders, to meet the demand for cheaper guitars in Japan and abroad. Fender “Squier” still
continues to this day.

Fender Japan currently makes more models of Fender guitars than Fender USA does, and most of them are regular
production-line models. Fender Japan also has a Custom Shop and Order-Made division. Many of these models were and
still are for Japan only, and not intended for export, and are difficult to purchase direct from Japan, except through private
collectors such as myself.
History of Fender JAPAN
Fender Japan was officially created in March 1982 as a joint venture company between
Fender USA, Yamano Music Instrument (Fender USA and Gibson Distributor that time) and
Kanda Shoki (Greco's distributor). Around 1976-1980, Many Japanese Guitar MFGs made
the replica of Fender guitars. Specially, Kanda shokai, they were distributing the
Greco brand Guitar made by Fujigen. Fujigen invested several CNC machine to produce
the accurate wood body shape without time consume. The guitars Fujigen made were
distributing with GRECO Brand as super real series. On the other hand, Tokai and other
MFGs are distributing their guitars with high-technical productivity.

The technology of those guitars were evaluated worldwide better quality than original
Fender guitars. It seems that Fender USA established the Fender Japan as one of solution/
decision to protect their brand name and market.

The Fender Japan guitar manufacturing contract was originally going to go to Tokai in
1981/1982 but at the last minute Fender choose Fujigen Gakki instead.
Some Fujigen made Fender replica between 1982 and 1997 have necks made by Atlansia.
Tokai and Dyna Gakki took over the production of the Fender Japan models from Fujigen
in 1996/1997. The Tokai made Fender Japan guitars are not exported from Japan but some
of the Dyna Gakki made Fender Japan guitars are exported.
Dyna Gakki have made various guitars for Kanda Shokai's Greco brand.
Terada made the Fender Japan acoustic guitars such as the Fender Catalina.

"Made in Japan" and "Crafted in Japan" and its rumors

According to a Fender representative, it was in the Fender Japan contract that
if there was a change of manufacturer from Fujigen Gakki to another guitar factory then
the logo would be changed from MIJ ("Made in Japan") to CIJ ("Crafted in Japan").
The first CIJ Fenders start around 1992 but most of the Japanese Fenders up till
1996/1997 are MIJ Fenders. In 1991/1992 Fujigen were expanding their factory operations
by establishing Fujigen Hirooka Inc. to be able to take on additional set neck
(Gibson like necks) contracts (such as the Orville by Gibson contract).
At the result of production delay during this Fujigen new facility expansion,
Dyna Gakki took over some of the production of the Japanese Fender models which
resulted in a CIJ logo being used on some Japanese Fenders instead of a MIJ logo.
CIJ is mostly used on Fenders from 1996/1997 until recently due to Tokai and Dyna Gakki
taking over the Fender Japan manufacturing contract from Fujigen Gakki in 1996/1997.
The Fender Squire were also brought into line to be in sync with the Japanese Fenders
at around the same time (1996/1997) with 'Crafted' rather than 'Made' being used.
"Made in Japan" is used on some current Fender Japan models (2007) instead of
"Crafted in Japan".

1982: Fender Japan starts production with Fujigen Gakki having the manufacturing contract.
The "Made in Japan" (MIJ) logo is used.
1984: CBS sells Fender to its current owners and while waiting for a new USA factory
to begin production, Fender Japan models and leftover USA stock were mostly sold
in the USA for a few years.
1992: The first "Crafted in Japan" (CIJ) models start appearing due to Dyna Gakki taking
over some of the manufacturing while Fujigen were expanding their operations.
1996/1997: "Crafted in Japan" (CIJ) is used instead of "Made in Japan" (MIJ).
Tokai and Dyna Gakki took over the manufacturing contract from Fujigen Gakki.

There are still many rumors that "Crafted in Japan" marked are not assembled in Japan.
The Japanese users said, all wooden works are done out side of Japan, Tokai or Dyna
just assemble them ! I think it just rumors. To think about the production process,
if Fender Japan done so, they had better assemble all in China or Indonesia.
They should think about the cost effectiveness.
The freight between Japan and China/Indonesia could not allow them to do.
I think they are still asking the Japanese Guitar Manufacturers.
However, the parts should be came from outside of Japan. Like Tuner(Korean made, Japanese
MFG license products !), other hard ware and Pick-Up (Mexican made, possibly !)

I have seen many Fender Japan, the wood materials, to compare with vintage and current
at same pricing level, vintage Fender Japan are absolutely better.
The end-user said JV serial, Fender Japan and Squire are great.
The pricing of these JV serial has been vry high. Well, these are early stage of
Fender Japan made by Fujigen. It is exactly same with Greco Stratocaster.
I have heard that at the beginning, Fujigen took off Greco logo and put Fender logo.
They just change the hardware's which Fender Japan provided.
I'm not sure this is rumor again !