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 24, 2003                      /s/ James A. Donahue
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             James A. Donahue
                                             President & Chief Executive Officer