My sister Susan has a couple of Japanese guitars. One is an older Takamine, it may be one of the ones that Martin sued Takamine over. It has the same shaped headstock as a Martin and the logo looks a lot like the C.F. Martin script.The other is a Yamaha that I actually bought for my ex, hoping she would start to play. Susan helped me pick it out, and it was their second from the very top of their line. When it was just collecting dust and Susan was having pick up problems with her other guitar, a Daoin, I suggested that she play the Yamaha until she got the Daion fixed. That was a couple of years ago and I haven't seen the Daion since. She has been playing with a lot of players different players, many of whom have Martins, Gibsons etc. She said that at first she was intimidated by their instruments, now she says that it sounds as good as most, better than a lot that were far more expensive guitars.