Kamata Analog Music Masters

Continue to send music to the world
6 "Analog Music Masters"
Music critic Kazunori Harada introduces with videos and sentences!

Music critic: Kazunori Harada

Music critic. After working as the editor-in-chief of "Jazz Criticism", she continued to contribute to newspapers, magazines, the web, etc., while also commenting on and supervising thousands of CDs / records, and appearing in broadcasts and events.His writings include "Kotekote Sound Machine" (Space Shower Books), "World's Best Jazz" (Kobunsha New Book), "Cat Jacket" and "Cat Jacket 2" (Music Magazine). In 2019, he was elected to the International Critics Vote for the American longest-established jazz magazine, Downbeat.He is a director of Music Pen Club Japan (formerly Music Authors Council).

Music critic Kazunori Harada Meets Kamata Analog Music Masters

Video: Upright Monkey Man / Journey / Transistor Record

Interview: Ogura Jewelery Seiki Kogyo / Sound Attics / Sanada Trading Co., Ltd. (Joy Brass)

Special project: Yosuke Onuma x May Inoue Talk & Live

Movie

Masaya Ishizaki, owner of the jazz bar "Pithecanthropus"

The number of jazz analog records is about 2,000. Introducing "the charm of jazz" and "the charm of analog records".

Upright monkey person (founded in 1975)

• Location: 7-61-8 Nishikamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo
• Business hours / 18: 00-24: 00
• Regular holidays / Sundays and holidays
• Phone / 090-8726-1728

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Hirofumi Morita, owner of the music bar "Journey"

The number of analog records from jazz and rock to soul and blues is about 3,000.Introducing the special sound from the special display.

Journey (founded in 1983)

• Location: 5-30-15 Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo 20th Shimokawa Building B101
• Business hours / 19: 00-25: 00
• Regular holidays / Sundays and holidays
• Phone / 03-3739-7154

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Mikiko Oka, Transistor Records Co., Ltd.

"The smallest record company in Japan". Introducing Japanese folk rock in the 70's, band boom in the 90's, and the music you want to convey now.

Transistor Records Co., Ltd. (founded in 1989)

• Location / 3-6-1 Higashiyaguchi, Ota-ku, Tokyo
• Phone / 03-5732-3352

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Interview

Mr. Kotaro Ogura, CEO of Ogura Jewelery Machinery Co., Ltd.

Continued to make record needles with advanced elaborate technology for over 70 years

Ogura Jewelery Machinery Co., Ltd., a long-established company celebrating its 130th anniversary. In 1894 (Meiji 27), we succeeded in processing and manufacturing gems for torpedo launching aimers at the request of the Ministry of the Navy, and in 1938 (Showa 13) we moved our head office to Iriarai (currently Ota Ward) in Omori Ward.Record needle production has been ongoing since 1947.The needle that is indispensable for record playback, it is created by the advanced precision processing technology cultivated over many years.

"I joined the company in 1979, just when the Walkman * went on sale. A few years later, with the advent of CDs, the demand for record needles was clearly declining.'

You witnessed the rise and fall of record needles. Are there any major differences between the needles made before the appearance of the CD and the current needle manufacturing technology?

"The polishing technology has evolved. The record needles I made when I joined the company were bumpy when I took a magnified picture, and it was unstable by the current standards."

How many record needles do you produce a month?

"I can't tell you the production quantity, but due to the increase in orders from overseas in Korona-ka, we are currently in full production. It accounts for about XNUMX% of the total sales. It is difficult to increase it any more. Record needles. Only the process of assembling the cartridge cannot be mechanized. You have to work carefully with the human eye while looking at it with a microscope. Even if you just insert the needle into the cartridge, you need to look closely at the direction and angle. Yes, it's a very time-consuming task that requires skill. "

There are MM (moving magnet) type and MC (moving coil) type cartridges. The MM type is said to be an introductory class, and the MC type is said to be a high-class class.

"I remember that there are about XNUMX companies in the world that make record needles now. There are cheap record needles on the market, but we are limited to MC type needles. Needle material Some of them are expensive, but they also use natural diamonds. In the case of record needles, it's over when you hear the sound and the customer tells you that it's not good. Most orders come from Europe. Takes care of old culture, and I've heard that records are becoming more and more enjoyable at home, especially after the Corona sickness, and demand from China has increased recently.'

In recent years, vinyl has been regaining attention. What are your thoughts on that?

"I don't think that only speakers will be digital. Then, I think that more and more people think that it is better to listen to vinyl records through speakers than CDs. Now, manufacturing I am doing research and development with the head office organization in Ota Ward, but I think that it is a very convenient place. The most important thing for us is to make things in Japan. Wants to continue forever.'

* Walkman: Sony's portable audio player.Initially made exclusively for playing cassette tapes.

Ogura Jewelery Machinery Co., Ltd. (founded in 1894)

Kayoko Furuki, CEO of Sound Attics Co., Ltd.

Manufacture of original speaker system that "makes sound that suits the person"

As soon as you step in, speaker systems of various sizes will welcome visitors.The technology and knowledge cultivated through many years of know-how, such as manufacturing speaker systems and adjusting sound according to customer's wishes, selling coils and capacitors, cutting plate materials, etc., will propose new ways to enjoy sound. ..

In 1978, opened an electronics store in Nishikamata and sold amplifiers in one corner.After moving to Ikegami, it became an audio specialty store and moved to Minamirokugo 90-chome in the early 2's. Since 2004, we have been operating in the current Minamirokugo 1-chome.

"Ota Ward has a feeling of downtown, and houses and factories coexist. In the Ikegami era, the audio industry as a whole had momentum, and the company that supported the early Japanese digital amplifiers, the transformer shop. There were also craftsmen who made speaker boxes and parts, and craftsmen who brushed pianos. It was said that "audio has become a declining industry" and we survived. I think this is because of the unique advantage of Ota Ward and the small-scale feeling of creating an original playback system according to the customer's order.'

Like custom-made clothes, you make sounds that are suitable for each customer.

"What I have been working on is" creating a sound that suits that person. "While exchanging opinions, we will create a system that incorporates the customer's intentions. The sound changes with a single screw. There are various people who write blueprints, those who can not write blueprints but like soldering and want to do only that, and those who leave it to us from the beginning to the end, but what they have in common is that they want good sound. We ask our customers to come here (Sound Attics Headquarters) to control the volume of the amplifier by themselves, asking them about the size of the room, whether it is tatami or flooring, and what the ceiling looks like. By doing so, you can see what volume you normally listen to, so we will select speaker parts accordingly. "

I think the reality is that you can't hear that loud sound in Japan, especially in densely populated residential areas.What are you particularly working on?

"I think there are many people in Japan who use overseas audio, but it seems that they are designed for listening at a loud volume. Considering the housing situation in Japan. Even with a modest volume, it's better to be able to produce a sound that each part can hear firmly. With that in mind, I'm making it so that if you lower the sound, you won't hear anything but vocals. "

Before the Korona-ka, there were many customers from the United States, Europe, and Asia.

"Because it is near Haneda Airport, people from all over the world come to visit us. I think it is common throughout the world to seek good sound. We will continue to respond to various requests and be one-and-only for everyone. I would like to provide the system of.'

Sound Attics Co., Ltd. (founded in 1978)

• Location / 1-34-13 Minamirokugo, Ota-ku, Tokyo
• Business hours / 9: 00-18: 00
• Regular holiday / Tuesday
• Phone / 03-5711-3061

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Mr. Kazufumi Sanada, CEO of Sanada Trading Co., Ltd. (Joy Brass)

A store specializing in trumpets and trombones.World-class musicians claim to be a "sacred place"

It is a trumpet and trombone specialty store where various musicians stop by, from prestigious classical music such as the New York Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, and Chicago Philharmonic to representatives of the jazz world such as the Count Basie Orchestra and Terumasa Hino.One of the reasons why it is touted as a "sanctuary" by the world's leading is its fine hospitality (heartfelt hospitality).

"When I was working at a musical instrument import and wholesale company, even if new musical instruments came out in Germany and the United States, it was difficult for them to be imported into Japan. To handle them, I opened a business in Nakano Shimbashi. I went to get the agency rights of each manufacturer. Initially, I also imported wood tube musical instruments, but I wanted to bring out my own characteristics as a new company, so I narrowed down to trumpets and trombones from 1996. In order to spread the trumpet and trombone of our main product, Shires (Boston, USA), we have been using the name Shires for 3-4 years and the name Joy Brass for about XNUMX years. "

It was in 2006 that you moved to the vicinity of Keikyu Kamata Station. Can you tell us the reason?

"It's a good location, such as being close to Haneda Airport. When I moved to Kamata, Haneda Airport was still centered on domestic flights, but since then, many international flights have arrived. From the direction of Yokohama. Not only that, I think it's convenient to be able to come from Chiba by a single train. "

It seems that there are many students and working people in the store as well as professional musicians.

"We will draw out the needs of the end user, that is," what the customer wants "by conversation, and propose the best method. Because we specialize in trumpet and trombone, we I think we're digging deeper into each instrument, and if you're worried about mouthpieces, we can think together and offer you a better mouthpiece. The store is on the second floor. Yes, it may be difficult to enter at first, but I would be happy if you could come and choose the instrument carefully. "

I heard that President Sanada will also play the trumpet.

"I started with cornet * when I was XNUMX years old, and after that I had my teacher teach me the trumpet, and I still play in the big band of working people. I like Louis Armstrong and Chet Baker."

Do you like vinyl records?

"I still listen to it a lot, and I feel the sound of the cassette tape is very realistic. In the world of XNUMX and XNUMX, I get the impression that the sound that is ringing is trimmed somewhere. I think it suits the analog sound making that captures the atmosphere of the place as it is, even if there is noise. "

* Cornet: A brass instrument that was the first to incorporate a piston valve developed in the early 19th century.The total length of the tube is the same as that of the trumpet, but since more tubes are wound, a soft and deep sound can be produced.

JoyBrass (founded in 1995)

• Location: 1-3-7 Minamikamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo 2nd floor
• Business hours / Tuesday-Friday 11: 00-19: 00, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10: 00-18: 00
• Regular holiday / Monday (Open if it is a national holiday)
• Phone / 03-5480-2468

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Onuma Yosuke x May Inoue Talk & Live

Two talented guitarists who are active in crossover gather at "Kamata"!
I would like to talk about Kamata and analog records.

© Taichi Nishimaki