Awarded for 2025; announced January 2026

Award Citation

The Flute Maker of the Year 2025 award of the Global Flute Excellence Awards is presented to Sakurai Flute in recognition of outstanding artistry, long-term innovation, and exceptional craftsmanship in the field of handmade flute making.

Founded in 1959 by Koichiro Sakurai, the workshop has earned international respect for instruments distinguished by tonal warmth, balance, and individuality. Across decades, Sakurai Flute has maintained a clear artistic identity rooted in handcraft rather than industrial standardization, shaping the sound ideals of contemporary flute performance.

Today, under the direction of Shuhou Sakurai, the workshop continues this tradition while pursuing original, research-driven approaches that unite historical knowledge with forward-looking vision.

Artistry, Research, and Craft Philosophy

Sakurai Flute instruments are conceived as coherent acoustic systems in which materials, mechanics, geometry, and pads are treated as inseparable elements of a single musical whole.

Traditional handmade natural pads, produced entirely in-house, allow each instrument to age organically and retain long-term responsiveness. At the same time, the workshop engages in responsible research into alternative materials — including reinforced wood composites, ceramic, and artificial stone — addressing sustainability while preserving acoustic intent and artistic integrity.

This balance between tradition and experimentation reflects a philosophy in which innovation serves musical depth rather than commercial replication.

A Singular Achievement in 2025

In 2025, Sakurai Flute unveiled a singular master instrument developed over approximately ten years. Conceived not as a commercial model, but as an artistic culmination, the instrument reflects sustained experimentation informed by historical knowledge and long-term acoustic research.

This achievement stands as a rare example of research-based flute making at the highest artisanal level, prioritizing tonal integrity and long-term musical depth over reproducibility or market considerations.

The Award

The Flute Maker of the Year award honors makers whose work demonstrates exceptional artistry, technical refinement, and lasting influence on the flute world.
In recognizing Sakurai Flute as Flute Maker of the Year 2025, the Global Flute Excellence Awards affirm the enduring value of slow craft, human-centered design, and responsible innovation as essential forces shaping the future of flute making.

This recognition is part of the Global Flute Excellence Awards 2025.