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Hi everyone. Ervin asked me to post this regarding his friend Taku Sakashta.
The guitar making community lost a valued member on Thursday February 11, when Japanese-American luthier Taku Sakashta was killed outside of his workshop in Rohnert Park, California. It appears to have happened during a robbery. Taku is survived by his wife Kazuko. As she worked for and with Taku, she now is bereft of an income as well as a husband. Rohnert Park is about an hour north of San Francisco, and also an hour north of my own shop in Oakland.
Those who knew Taku knew him to be a uniquely hard-working individual as well as a luthier of rare talent. I knew him for 15 years. Taku brought a very Japanese aesthetic to his work that imbued his guitars with a cleanness of line that bespoke of the traditional Japanese rock garden. His workmanship was imaginative, original, and preternaturally CLEAN.
Friends in the lutherie community have moved to set up a memorial trust fund for Kazuko. Anyone who would like to be helpful is invited to make a donation into it.
For those wishing to send a check or money-order, it should be made out to either Kazuko Sakashita or to Taku Sakashta Guitars (NOTE: ‘Sakashita’ is pronounced ‘Sakashta’): the account is in both these names.
Donations should be sent to: Wells Fargo Bank
c/o account No. 7478-148203
Elmwood branch
2951 College Avenue
Berkeley, California, 94705
For those wishing to send a wire transfer of funds, it should be sent to the same account at the same bank, under the same name, and to the wire transfer-routing ABA number 121-000-248.
For those wishing to send woods, tools, materials, or anything else that cannot be sent into a bank account, luthier Tom Ribbecke has volunteered to be a repository of such more concrete donations, until they can be sold at auction together with Taku’s tools and woods. This will happen as soon as the family and close friends can organize such an effort.
Shipping of these donations should be made to Sakashta Memorial Fund, c/o Ribbecke Guitars, 498-D Moore Lane, Healdsburg, California, 75448. Tom gave me permission to also pass on his work phone number for anyone who feels the need to call him in regard to these matters: it is (707) 431-0125.
I’ll post updates as there is anything to update about -- including news of a burial and/or memorial service. I understand that most of the people reading this will be too far away to actually come to a memorial, but we thank everyone beforehand for any help that they can extend. I was the recipient of much generosity when my shop burned down in 1991 and I have to tell you that having people support me in any way at all was a life-saver. It was like finding water in the middle of the desert. And it’ll be the same for Kazuko.
Sincerely,
Ervin Somogyi
_________________ Brock PolingColumbus, Ohio http://www.polingguitars.com
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