digitalguitararchive.com/2012/02/andres-segovia-in-japan-1929
A tremendous boost to the classical guitar came in 1929 with the arrival of Andrés Segovia for performances in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe. Up until this time there had been no dynamic performers who could show the potential of the guitar to Japanese guitarists. Segovia’s performances proved the viability of the classical guitar as a solo instrument and from this time the solo guitar began to outpace the mandolin orchestra in Japan.