“I want to make an anime-themed guitar,” the president would always blurt out out of the blue. Whether it was a spur-of-the-moment idea or something he’d been mulling over, anime fans were summoned to discuss which anime series to bring to life and how. From *Sazae-san* to *Evangelion*, tastes varied across different generations.From the start, our concept was to avoid simply making guitars with a print on the top, so the meeting hit a snag. Suddenly, one (relatively) young employee asked, “What about Tachikoma?” When we all watched the footage together, we felt like we’d found the direction we were looking for in its rounded design and endearing character.

We immediately had the staff create rough designs and began navigating the complicated procedures by trial and error. Even the president, who had initially asked, “What’s a Tachikoma?”, seemed to have secretly watched the entire anime TV series from the first episode to the last, and before we knew it, figures were lined up in the office.

　And that’s how the “TACHIKOMA GT” project began.

　If we were going to do this, we wanted to create something truly exceptional as a musical instrument; if a guitar shop were to make it, it had to be worthy of that reputation. The specs included a through-neck design, a headless body, and an illuminated fingerboard. As we packed more and more of our dreams into the design, the costs rose accordingly. We wrestled with these decisions time and again, but we knew that if we had to compromise on cost, it wouldn’t be the model of our dreams. We wanted to create a model crafted with meticulous attention to detail—one that we could truly say was the guitar we wanted—and that’s how the specifications were finalized.

　And if we’re going to make it, it has to be here in Japan. If we’re collaborating with one of Japan’s most iconic anime series, it has to be a handmade guitar crafted with Japanese technology and soul. We’re committed to “Made in Japan.” TCGAKKI was finally launched as a guitar that showcases Japanese culture to the world.

Based on the design, with everyone’s input—suggestions like “Let’s round this part out a bit more” or “Make it look more like a Tachikoma”—we completed a miniature sample filled with everyone’s love!

We were relieved to see that everyone at Production I.G was pleased with it. After going through various procedures, it was finally time to start production.

Off to one of Tokyo’s top guitar workshops! We refined the details through numerous production meetings. From choosing
the wood to determining the ideal weight, our dream was finally taking shape.

We held meticulous discussions day and night about the body shape, taking into account playability at the neck heel and the ease of tuning from the body end—a feature unique to headless designs.

After countless revisions, we finally completed the full-scale technical drawings.

Even after the design is finalized, the playability may not turn out as expected when actually transferred to a wooden mold. With this in mind, we prepare various templates.

Here we are making the wooden mold. We’re combining
various patterns to determine the final shape.

After trying out numerous combinations, we finally settled on this wooden mold!

Carefully selected wood. Since it’s a through-neck design, we use flamed maple generously. After much trial and error, basswood was chosen for the body sides due to its weight balance and natural acoustic characteristics.

It’s exciting to see the guitar’s shape taking form!
Compact, lightweight, and natural—yet with a solid core. We’ve selected materials that truly capture the essence of Tachikoma.

I’m determining the placement of the parts based on a test assembly. At this stage, the volume knob is still just a sample. Since this is a crucial part that defines the Tachikoma’s character, I had it remade countless times without compromise.

Once actually installed, which one gives it that authentic Tachikoma look? The size and spacing of the dots can drastically change the overall feel. We repeated the prototyping process until we were satisfied. Thank you to everyone at the factory who made so many of these for us, time and time again.

Now it’s finally time to start
machining the lines on the illuminated fingerboard.

We carved the same line over and over, gradually widening the groove.

Once the groove is ready, it’s time to embed the neon. We finish it with great care.

We’ll install the fingerboard with the neon tubes embedded and apply the final finish.

Now it’s finally time to start painting. I’ve mixed the paint to achieve that signature Tachikoma blue. To capture the texture of the Tachikoma, I’m paying close attention to the blend of blue and silver.

The guitar in its pristine state before painting. The spray application is both delicate and bold.

It’s gradually being transformed into Tachikoma blue. This is the most thrilling moment!

Now it’s time for the drying process. When the masking tape is removed, the beautiful through-neck design is revealed.

After drying, I’ll apply a clear coat.

Part of the “Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG” logo has been added. These blue anodized parts from B,W&R were specially prepared for this project
.

I put a lot of effort into making this knob, but simply mounting it on the body didn’t quite capture the feel of a Tachikoma’s eyes. So I created a custom aluminum plate for it. Now it looks much more like a Tachikoma.

Once the painting is complete, it’s finally time to assemble it. By sandwiching white between the escutcheons, I created a two-tone effect with the blue, which enhances the Tachikoma vibe. Even though people might joke, “No one’s going to notice that much detail!” I went ahead and did it anyway.

Here it is! The red lamp. This is exactly what I wanted to do.

The engraved backplate looks absolutely gorgeous!

I assembled all the custom parts and ran the wiring.

I even paid special attention to the output jack, positioning it right where the Tachikoma’s mouth would be.

It might seem like it happened in the blink of an eye when told as a story, but it was a long journey—two years from the initial idea and one year from the design phase. The emotions I felt when the first unit was completed were beyond words. It felt like I’d met a real Tachikoma—I even felt like saying something to it.
So, here it is: the TACHIKOMA GT. I really want you all to pick one up and experience its true value for yourselves. The TACHIKOMA GT is waiting for you.