[mresseguie]

I searched for the correct place to post this, and finally guessed it might find a temporary home here. [Note to admin: If it’s totally out of place here, please tell me where it belongs.]

I am in Osaka, Japan for another ~36 hours, and I have been given permission to spend a few hours wandering through a few audio stores which I have located. If there is anything you think is worth searching for or checking for hot deals, let me know and I’ll keep my eyes peeled for it. I’m hoping to find something that I don’t normally see in the North American market.

Michael

[S Clark]

Japanese vinyl is usually very high quality

[kmmd]

Have fun in Osaka, Michael. 

Yes S Clark is right about vinyl.  I bought some in Tokyo and brought them home. If you’re anywhere near Umeda, there’s a Yodobashi where you can spend hours.  BIC Camera is an alternative.  I bought a small Panasonic shaver there (Lamdash Palm).  They have sections of a floor for audio products, and maybe you can check out cables, power conditioners, etc.  I wish I would’ve brought home some phono cartridges.  Oh and don’t forget to drop by the tax counters to get your tax $ back using your passport.

Ken

Btw, I’ve been getting emails from Chris VenHaus that Furutech prices are going up on their gold plated products, so that may be something to look into while in JP.

[mresseguie]

Thanks, guys!

I walked right past that Yodobashi store this afternoon, but unable to explore because I was with my wife, son, DIL and my little grandson. There’s a cluster of audio shops a bit less than a mile from my Airbnb. I plan to check them all tomorrow. If there is time, I’ll check out the Yodobashi store.

[kmmd]

Definitely drop by with your son and grandson.  You’ll stay for hours there.  I loved the model trains, anime and figurines.  There are lots of good eats and a market in the basement of LUCUA too.

[kmmd]

Here’s a map of the basement restaurants.
https://www.lucua.jp/en/floormap/b2_en.html

I didn’t realize there’s a Ginza Kagari down there.  We went there twice while in Tokyo.  It’s like cream of chicken soup with ramen noodles.  Add in the truffle and oh my. 

[FullRangeMan]

My 2 cents are look for Enka music CDs as Hibari Missora, Yoshio Kimura and others greats.

[viggen]

i'd look for places like these in this site:

https://tahusa.co/diary/exploring-japans-jazz-kissa-cafe-culture-vibes-and-snaps/?srsltid=AfmBOoplwZGXOYFGc2Hhuu0au9hiHk2jBbZgPuvKq8xvQ2jSBsTKoTlB

[mresseguie]

We all went to a ramen restaurant (similar to the one mentioned above) yesterday afternoon. We stood in line for ~20+ minutes before being seated. The broth was delicious, noodles ‘firm’ and just spicy enough to keep me slurping up the broth. It was very satisfying.

Viggen:

I saw a sign advertising a Jazz Kissa establishment yesterday, but it hadn’t opened for the day yet. I don’t know if I will have time to visit one today. I guess a lot depends on what time they open for business. I located a half dozen along the stretch we were walking around yesterday.

I wish I could get my son interested in the audio scene, but he really isn’t drawn to it. The simple audio system that I bought for he and his wife as a house warming present languishes <largely> unused since the baby was born. Someday when I die, he’ll sell my gear - probably at firesale prices.  <Sigh>

I’m hoping I get a chance to listen to a pair of JBL 4344 speakers today. I’ve dreamt of owning a pair for our living room in Taiwan, but will probably have to settle for my Daedalus Apollos instead if I can safely ship them to Taiwan.


Thanks for the advice and tips. I’ll report back this evening.

Michael

[viggen]

We all went to a ramen restaurant (similar to the one mentioned above) yesterday afternoon. We stood in line for ~20+ minutes before being seated. The broth was delicious, noodles ‘firm’ and just spicy enough to keep me slurping up the broth. It was very satisfying.

Viggen:

I saw a sign advertising a Jazz Kissa establishment yesterday, but it hadn’t opened for the day yet. I don’t know if I will have time to visit one today. I guess a lot depends on what time they open for business. I located a half dozen along the stretch we were walking around yesterday.

I wish I could get my son interested in the audio scene, but he really isn’t drawn to it. The simple audio system that I bought for he and his wife as a house warming present languishes <largely> unused since the baby was born. Someday when I die, he’ll sell my gear - probably at firesale prices.  <Sigh>

I’m hoping I get a chance to listen to a pair of JBL 4344 speakers today. I’ve dreamt of owning a pair for our living room in Taiwan, but will probably have to settle for my Daedalus Apollos instead if I can safely ship them to Taiwan.


Thanks for the advice and tips. I’ll report back this evening.

Michael

tell your son i got first dibs on your dac

[mresseguie]

 😝

My two reactions when I read that, viggen. First thought: “Which one?” Followed by “You may well have to fly back to Taiwan if you want my DAC.”

Hopefully, you and any others hoping for a great deal will have to wait 15 to 20+ years to get a screaming buy on my audio gear. I won’t give up my life without a fight. 

[viggen]

i have been more into watching documentaries on yt on a laptop via a pair of $12 earbuds than sitting in front of the hifi.

so i can be patient and wait.  i can even pick it up in taiwan my home town.  that is if i don't die before you do.

[mresseguie]

i have been more into watching documentaries on yt on a laptop via a pair of $12 earbuds than sitting in front of the hifi.

so i can be patient and wait.  i can even pick it up in taiwan my home town.  that is if i don't die before you do.

I remembered that detail which is why I mentioned it.  Currently, we live in Taoyuan in order to help care for 爸 and 媽.

For some reason, I think you’re a few years younger than me. I’ll be 65 in a few days.

[mresseguie]

Today was my big Japanese audio adventure that fizzled out with a whimper. Of the six stores I had identified as having the best potential for carrying interesting gear, two appear to no longer exist; one is an audio repair shop, and the two that I was really looking forward to visiting are closed today. The only one I visited actually has a decent selection of gear, accessories and CDs/DVDs/LPs and reel to reel tapes. Sadly, I stayed there only for a short time because it was the first one I visited. I bought six CDs. The rest of the time was eaten up with my wandering around the area searching for the remaining five shops and discovering what I mentioned above.

There’s a much better cluster of audio shops in Taipei than in Osaka. I’ll visit there again next month when I have more free time.

[mix4fix]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S64cCDkmuXM

Kenrick Sound - Tokyo

[mresseguie]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S64cCDkmuXM

Kenrick Sound - Tokyo

Good choice. I've known about Kenrick for a few years, and I would love to visit them. Tokyo is a bit of a hike from the Osaka area (500Km), so it wasn't in the cards.