00:00Today's Good Recommendation: The Manufacturing Plant Supporting the Revival of Record Popularity
00:06We covered the craftsmanship that gives shape to sound
00:10The record boom that colored the Showa era continues in the Reiwa era
00:18Listening to Hanaimo Records makes me feel like I'm back in time.
00:22I think it's nice that it spins and has that kind of charm.
00:28Even now, the record manufacturing site is in full operation every day.
00:33Moreover, the manufacturing method has remained virtually unchanged for over 50 years.
00:39Handcrafted by artisans
00:44We took a closer look at the craftsmanship of record record makers, a skill that Japan is proud of around the world.
00:48Announcer Sato visited
00:52Music shops in Tokyo
00:55The entire floor is dedicated to selling records.
01:00The number
01:01A whopping 100,000 copies
01:04Nowadays, not only musicians of the past such as the Beatles
01:09Advertisements popular among young people
01:13Popular artists are releasing music one after another.
01:16Players are also available for under 10,000 yen.
01:22Records become more accessible
01:25Why vinyl records in the digital age?
01:30We live in an age of subscriptions.
01:33By deliberately holding things
01:35Many people find it appealing that they have to take the time to listen to it.
01:381989, when Princess Princess became a huge hit
01:44Since then, the production of records has declined due to the popularity of CDs.
01:50In recent years, popularity has risen sharply
01:53Last year's sales exceeded 7 billion yen.
01:56Records bring a breath of fresh air to the digital age
02:01In fact, the manufacturing method has been around for over 50 years.
02:05It continues to be protected by the hands of artisans.
02:09We headed to one of the country's leading manufacturing plants
02:14How much is made?
02:17Currently, we are producing about 10,000 pieces per day.
02:21Toyo Kasei, founded in 1959
02:26The Tsurumi factory is one of the largest in Asia.
02:31He has been making records for over half a century.
02:35Records with the warm sound quality that only analog can offer
02:41How do you create it?
02:44The grooves are cut into the record version.
02:47The audio files we received from our customers
02:50We adjusted it here and are now cutting the grooves.
02:55Records have tiny sound grooves engraved on their surface.
03:00The process of creating the groove is called cutting.
03:05The machines used are made in the former West Germany and are no longer in production.
03:10When you input sound into the machine
03:13Vibrations are transmitted to the needle in accordance with the sound waveform.
03:17It vibrates up and down and side to side, carving grooves into the disc.
03:23When playing a record
03:26The needle vibrates along this groove
03:28By converting it into an electrical signal
03:31The sound comes out of the speaker
03:34The original sound data is adjusted by this machine.
03:41This data is sent to the cutting machine.
03:44Nishitani's job is to fine-tune that sound.
03:49This is the actual groove engraved on the disk.
03:54Each groove is thinner than a hair in this microscopic world
03:59Therefore, this
04:06Like now
04:08These parts need to be adjusted
04:13I need to cut it again
04:16If the groove spacing is too small
04:18The needle jumps and noise occurs.
04:21Preventing this is where craftsman Nishitani's skills come into play.
04:26Increase or decrease the volume or reduce the bass
04:30When adjusting the groove
04:38The noise that was there before has disappeared.
04:40By making various adjustments
04:48This means that you will have to pay
04:50Not only does it work, but it can also be checked under a microscope.
04:53Currently, cutting craftsmen
04:56It is said that there are only about 10 people like that in Japan.
04:58This is how it came about
05:01This is the original version of the lacquer van.
05:04This is used to manufacture a mold for mass production called a stamper.
05:10The record is simply
05:13Made using the principle of soldering
05:14Stampers are on sale.
05:17This is set up above and below the record press machine like this.
05:23And the black mass in the palm of my hand
05:27This is vinyl chloride, the raw material for records.
05:32By compressing this mass with a press,
05:36It is finished to that thinness.
05:38Pressed at 100 tons of pressure while applying heat.
05:44By pressing the back side
05:48Sides A and B are complete.
05:50The excess part that protrudes during pressing
05:55Cut neatly into a beautiful disc
06:02Over 50 years in the digital age
06:04Vinyl records manufactured in the same way
06:08Do you have a desire to preserve record culture for future generations?
06:12It will continue
06:14Don't let the technology die out
06:17What I want to convey to young people
06:20I think that's one of the missions of being an engineer.
06:23Today's test questions start here
06:28Please press the D button on your remote control to join.
06:30If you answer the question correctly, you will receive 9 points.
06:34Today's respondent is Arai-san
06:36I wish you the best
06:37I will do my best
06:38Now, here's the question.
06:39At the tip of the needle on the record player
06:45Something is attached
06:47What is it?
06:48The blue option is diamonds
06:52Red is gold
06:53Green is glass
06:55Arai-san, do you understand?
06:57The hint is very solid
07:01Oh, speaking of hard
07:03That's it.
07:04Correct answer: It's after this
07:07Here's today's question
07:10At the tip of the needle on the record player
07:12What is being worn?
07:16The choice is blue for diamonds
07:19Red is gold
07:21Green is glass
07:25Deadline is coming soon
07:27So I'll end it here
07:29Arai-san, do you understand?
07:30Yes, isn't it a blue diamond?
07:32Now let's get to the answer
07:34The needles used to play records are mostly diamonds.
07:39I'm listening to the sound reproduced with the diamond reverberation on the record version.
07:43In that sense it's luxurious.
07:44That's true.
07:45The needles that play records need to be durable.
07:51Diamonds are used because they are harder
07:55So the correct answer was blue diamond.
07:59Arai-san was amazing
08:01That was good.
08:02Actually, I bought the player after I started working.
08:04I'm glad I got it right
08:06Please take a look when you get home today
08:07That's all, it was a good recommendation.
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