We are pleased to announce that Yusaku Maezawa has lent HIMARI the "Hamma", a 1717 masterpiece representing the golden age of Antonio Stradivari (see press release). This remarkable piece, decorated with beautiful straight-grained maple and characterized by a prominent frame that gently slopes from the center, is coated with a bright orange-red varnish on a golden ground.

Mr. Maezawa is a member of the Nippon Violin Society, an organization dedicated to supporting instrument management, maintenance, and collaboration with musicians. We, as a company that assisted in facilitating this loan, are thrilled that this precious instrument has been lent to such a talented young artist. We deeply appreciate Mr. Maezawa's desire to "contribute to the growth of young talent in Japan" and from which this opportunity arose. We wholeheartedly wish HIMARI even greater success in the future.

The importance of this loan is underscored by the testimony of Günther Pichler, who was first violinist of the internationally renowned Alban Berg Quartet for nearly 40 years and had the opportunity to perform with the "Hamma". He passionately describes the sound quality as reminiscent of an angel's voice. In addition, renowned artist Maxim Vengerov performed with the "Hamma" during various recitals in 2016-2017, and its sound can be enjoyed on his 2017 live recording album of the music of Henryk Wieniawski.