Welcome to Hirao Recorder Workshop Homepage. 

Hirao Recorder Workshop was founded in 1980 by Shigeharu Hirao-Yamaoka and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020.

While continuing research and examination of original historical recorders, we produce instruments that meet the demands of modern players.

We believe that there are two essential principles in contemporary recorder making. Most historical original instruments have undergone significant changes from their original condition due to aging and later modifications. Therefore, when building instruments based on original models, it is of utmost importance to take these changes into account and to strive to reproduce the instrument’s original state as accurately as possible.

The second important principle is to respond to the needs of today’s players. While preserving the original concept of each model, we aim to create recorders that are practical and functional for performers.

We also place strong emphasis on the development of new models. In recent years, Bressan Soprano in B and A, Haka Tenor in C, and Anonymous French Alto in F have been added to our product lineup.

Shigeharu Hirao-Yamaoka :

A recoreder player and maker. Studied recorder playing under Hans-Martin Linde and Jeanette van Wingerden in Basel Schola Cantorum, under Ricardo Kanji in Den Haag the Royal Conservatoire, where also studied recorder making under Frederick Morgan. After returned in 1980, dedicated to making and supplying instruments to recorder players all over the world.

Seiji Hirao :

An up-and-coming recorder maker in Japan. Studied recorder playing under Kiyomi Watanabe and Shigeharu Hirao-Yamaoka. In 2007 began to work on recorder making with Shigeharu Hirao-Yamaoka. In recent years, supplying instruments to recorder players all over the world and also in charge of development of new models such as Bressan Soprano in B and A, Haka Tenor in C, and Anonymous French Alto in F and so on.