Arts

For those who love to hit, pluck, strike or strum their instrument of choice, moving to Japan can provide a few challenges. Short-term expats looking at only a few years in the country may not want to risk damaging their beloved instrument during the moves in and out of the country, or the size of the instrument may make importing and exporting an unwieldy and costly choice. Or perhaps you are reading this article because you are interested in learning an instrument and want a frugal start. Today’s article will be focusing on the world of guitar and bass but drummers, keyboard players and pianists can follow along as well. Smart shopping can result in a quality instrument for a fraction of the prices found in most music stores. I Prefer to Try Before I Buy…Any Tips? Japan’s secondhand stores are a veritable treasure trove for your average guitar or bass player. A little legwork around your city can reveal beautiful gems at nearly criminal prices. Your author is still regretting not instantly buying a 6-string Warwick bass priced at 40,000 yen a few years ago. With one of the largest music scenes in the world and no end of…