Reiko Suzuki

Reiko Suzuki discovered her passion for music at a young age as she watched her father and mother operate a company that manufactured harmonicas and other instruments. This coupled with her father, Manji Suzuki’s desire to spread the joy of music to children later served as her inspiration to follow in her parent’s footsteps. After her start in the company where Reiko managed and supervised employees, worked in the accounting department, as well as the production side of the operation, Reiko became the president of Suzuki Musical Instruments. During her 2018 NAMM Oral History interview, Reiko discussed the initial challenges teachers faced while introducing the Keyboard Harmonica (Melodian) to their students and how Reiko and her team helped adapt the education so student exposure to the instrument could grow throughout Japan.