Jiro Yoshikawa: Flamenco Guitarist & Inventor of the “Guitarpa”
Born in Osaka in 1951 and a graduate of Kwansei Gakuin University, Jiro Yoshikawa began his guitar journey at the age of 15. In 1977, he traveled to Spain to study under the great flamenco guitar master Manuel Cano. Following his debut recital in Granada in 1978, he continued to visit Spain annually for intensive study until Cano’s passing in 1990.
In 1986, Yoshikawa made history as the first Japanese composer to perform an original flamenco guitar concerto, which he premiered with the Osaka Symphony Orchestra.
A prolific recording artist, he released his first all-original album, Meiro (Labyrinth), in 1988. His extensive discography includes titles such as Yume no Mado and Encanto de España. His 11th album, Beautiful Granada (2015), reflects his lifelong passion for the city. His mastery is internationally documented; he is featured in the “Diccionario Enciclopédico Ilustrado del Flamenco” (1998) as one of Japan’s leading flamenco guitarists.
Yoshikawa is also the visionary inventor of the “Guitarpa,” a patented, fretted tabletop harp developed in 1994. Since 2010, he has been dedicated to performing and popularizing this unique instrument alongside his concert flamenco guitar.
As a distinguished concertista (soloist), he performs a vast repertoire ranging from original flamenco works and classical pieces to Japanese and Latin American folk music. Since 2004, he has maintained a strong presence in Spain, performing annual concerts in cities such as Salamanca, Almería, Granada, Córdoba, and Toledo.
