Moonlight is a small jazz club in Tokyo.
There I saw Katsuya, an elderly guitarist holding an old Yamaha AE-11.
This guitar is a rare Japanese vintage piece manufactured between 1967 and 1971.
Katsuya's relationship with the AE-11 spanned more than half a century.
The countless scratches on the body are the history of the two men. Their passion in their youth, their failures, and their comebacks. All of this is engraved on this guitar.

That night, Katsuya had a special guest: his grandson, Ryuta.
He had never heard his grandfather play.
Katsuya took a deep breath and gently stroked the strings of the AE-11. The moment the first note rang out, the atmosphere in the club changed.
The rich, warm tones fill the venue.
There were only a few frets left, but Katsuya's fingers still moved lightly.
Ryuta listened with bated breath.
My grandfather's playing was not just music.
It was life itself: joy, sorrow, all expressed through the AE-11.

When the performance ended, the hall was enveloped in silence.
Then, a huge round of applause erupted. Katsuya closed his eyes and hugged AE-11 to his chest.
That night, Ryuta learned the true power of music.
He realized that AE-11 was indeed his grandfather's soul.
Katsuya said with a smile.
"This instrument embodies the golden age of Japanese instrument manufacturing. I'd love for you to play it someday."
Ryuta nodded.
Through the AE-11, he decided to carry on his grandfather's life and Japan's musical history.

The Yamaha AE-11 is more than just a musical instrument: it is an irreplaceable instrument that conveys the soul of music across generations.