Former Jackson/Charvel Japan designer Itaru Kanno established the Caparison Guitar company in 1995. Caparison was owned by Kyowa Shokai, a company that farmed out the production of the instruments to OEM factories (like Hoshino Gakki). In May 2011 Kyowa Shokai was declared bankrupt, however Caparison resumed production in September 2011 under the ownership of Caparison Guitar Company Ltd. This company retained Itaru Kanno as lead designer. The guitars are to be made by the Ida Gakki factory (Iida Music) in Nagoya