Yesterday

Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO64)

Tokyo is usually like a trip into the future but this time I have made a trip in the past and it was awesome.

I have been to Tokyo a couple of times already but during my last trip in October I visited Tower Records for the first time. What an experience. Like going back in time when there were records stores and even every electronic store sold records too.

Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/115 sec, ISO50)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO50)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO100)

The visit was like a walk down memory lane. From the first time I bought a record in a small electronic store in my home town, to the hours spent listing to records in the stores when I was a student to the first time I entered the Virgin Records Megastore when I moved to Vienna.

It was an awesome experience and even though I was tired after a long week full of business meetings and dinners I spent about two hours there. I didn’t even listen to any records first because I was just overwhelmed browsing to the offer. There are even new 7 inch records! I didn’t know that such a thing still exists today. They also have a huge section full of second hand records. What a place!

Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO64)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO50)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO64)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO64)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO80)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO64)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/50 sec, ISO64)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO80)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO64)

The weather was poor and since I only planed to go to a record store I left my camera in my hotel room. Big mistake! Luckily my iPhone Xs takes good pictures too especially in decent light. In this shop was nice and bright and big and it spans over 4 floors, floor 7 to 10. Vinyl occupies the top two floors.

There are Technics 1200GR to listen to records and there is a Technics 1200G plus McIntosh electronics for the background sound in the store.

Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO64)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO64)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO80)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO80)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO100)

In the images above you see their Technics/McIntosh playback system. I nearly bought the Technics 1200G and I own a McIntosh amplifier so I nearly ended up with the same system. My new turntable is not decided yet but I’m getting closer. The existing one is in operation for more than 20 years and still gives me more pleasure than my streamer.

Strangely I bought some CDs instead of records and here is why: my luggage space was restricted and I was worried that they would not survive the transport. I still wanted to buy something so I ended up purchasing this “bootleg” like recording from Tom Waits and some SMH-CDs. I have never heard about this format maybe because I switched to streaming many years back and haven’t bought CDs in a while. I was still curious. It’s a format created in 2007 by JVC Kenwood and its special trick is a more transparent polycarbonate.

Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO80)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO50)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO40)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO50)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO40)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO32)
Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO32)

The last couple of pictures show what keeps vinyl and CD sales alive in Japan. Mostly J-Pop and K-Pop and music performed by young girls for old men. Just google AKB48 to get an idea. But who am I to judge and to be honest I don’t care. I’m happy that there is a place in the world where I can still browse through thousands of records.

Usually Tokyo feels like a trip into the future but in this place it feels like a trip to the past and it feels good! Yesterday…

Apple iPhone XS (4.25mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO50)