Yuichi Imai was born in Tokyo in 1949. At the age of eighteen, he apprenticed with Akira Nakade, and studied with him for three years, before opening his own workshop in 1971. In 1975, he started exporting his guitars. Today he is considered one of the best luthiers in Japan and has a great international reputation.

This guitar built in 1984 corresponds to the Y.J./EX model. The aesthetics is distinctive with the large patterns of the table edge, the workmanship is very good. Soundwise, it is a powerful and well-balanced guitar, the bass is deep while the treble is clear and expressive.