Yairi

Who is Yairi?

Yairi is the name of three Japanese luthiers, who build handmade acoustic guitars.

In the 1960s and 70s Sadao Yairi, made guitars under the S. Yairi name. H. Yairi is Sadao Yairi's son, and made acoustic guitars under his supervision. Sadao was Kazuo's uncle, and the brother of Giichi Yairi.

S. and H. Yairi are marketed under a few names in the US: Yairi & Sons, Kohno, Shelly, and Wilson are some of the names.

Yairi is now the name of the top line of Alvarez guitars. Alvarez Yairi guitars are handmade in the same factory as K. Yairi guitars and are only sold under the Alvarez name in the United States.