Exhibit 32.1

                                   COHU, INC.
                         SARBANES-OXLEY ACT SECTION 906

                    CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, James A. Donahue, Chief Executive Officer of Cohu, Inc. (the "Registrant"),
do hereby certify in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, based on my knowledge:

           (1) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Registrant, to which
           this certification is attached as an exhibit (the "Report"), fully
           complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
           Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m); and

           (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
           material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
           of the Registrant.

Dated: October 28, 2004                    /s/ James A. Donahue
                                          -------------------------------------
                                           James A. Donahue
                                           President & Chief Executive Officer