ore than 70 TouchStone STARs from authorized Yamaha piano dealerships around the U.S. traveled to where it all began, accompanying staff members of Yamaha Corporation of America's Piano Division on a tour of the company's manufacturing facilities in Japan this past July.

In separate groups departing the U.S. on July 16 and July 23 respectively, the sales pros visited Yamaha headquarters in Hamamatsu, the Kakegawa Upright Factory, and the Iwata Foundry. They also had a chance to drop in at the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments. Yamaha Corporation of America Senior Vice President Terry Lewis and Piano Division Assistant General Manager Jim Lynch were among the Yamaha personnel who accompanied the STARs on their trip.

"Yamaha rolled out the red carpet," says Scott Lane of Memphis Music in Memphis, TN, one of the STARs who visited Japan. "They showed us Japanese culture, which I think correlates to why the products are so good. Everything in Japan seems to have a sense of personal pride. Even down to the most menial tasks, people take pride in doing them right."

At Iwata, the visitors saw the hot, noisy, but crucial process of manufacturing the V-Pro plates that are at the core of Yamaha pianos. Yamaha uses a special process in casting the iron frame, creating a stronger and more visually appealing V-Pro plate. In addition, STARs visited the Yamaha Guest House in Hamamatsu, with its display of musical instruments as well as sporting goods, electronics, and marine products manufactured by the company. During the Japan tour, visitors also got a surprise glimpse at the Yamaha Motors Communications Center, featuring examples of the Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd's new and antique vehicles.

"I especially enjoyed the Iwata plate foundry, and just seeing the pride the employees have in their work. It's an amazing process, and now I can explain it to my customers even better," Lane adds.

When they weren't at the key sites of Yamaha's Japanese pianomaking operations, the touring STARs were taking in important cultural sites and sightseeing destinations. A full day of sightseeing in Kyoto included the Kiyomizu Temple and Nijo Castle as well as the Kinkaku-Ji Temple. The tour participants also enjoyed shopping, dining at traditional Japanese restaurants, a trip on a "bullet train," and fine accommodations such as the Hotel Miyako in Kyoto, a frequent host to visiting U.S. presidents.

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