The production of guitars began in April 1988 under the brand “Orville by Gibson”. So why did Gibson decide to make guitars in Japan? Well just to thwart the Japanese copies, just as Fender did in 1982 by creating Fender Japan.

Are Gibson Guitars made in Japan?

Gibson does make guitars in Japan, or did, anyway, but those are electrics intended for the Japanese market and labeled as Orville guitars. So far as Im aware none of the Japanese-made guitars have carried a Gibson logo. Gibson makes special runs especially for the Japanese market all the time.