I became interested (obsessed actually) in Japanese culture and architecture starting around 1980. During my stay in Japan in 2003, while working with the Kohno guitar makers, I personally adopted a Kamon or Japanese crest. This same crest is also my logo for J Michael Instruments.

There are three parts to the logo, pine, bamboo, and plum. Since they can all endure cold weather as in ‘flourishing under adverse conditions’ they are often shown together as the “Three Friends of Winter.” Together they symbolize longevity, perseverance, and integrity.

Bamboo is seen as the ideal gentleman, who bends before the winds of change, but never abandons his ideals; just as bamboo is bent low by strong winds, but does not break. Pines are revered for their great age and strength. They are also valued because, like bamboo, pines remain green during the winter, making them a symbol of longevity and prosperity. The plum is valued both because it is early blooming and because it is the longest lived of the flowering fruit trees. It emblems longevity, purity, and beauty.