Japan - May 2024 Visiting Hard Offs in Search of MiniDiscs and MiniDisc Devices! MiniDisc Hunting

[@florianm3170]

Thank you for showing what's available in Japan, I already knew that minidisc was big in Japan, but now i can see how much. That's a cool feature that you can test the "junk" items yourself, sure wouldn't happen here in France. Big fan and early adopter of the format since 1992

[@TechnicalInitiative]

Glad you liked it and I hope to visit more of these places in the near future! You've been into it longer than I have!

[@НиколайСанько-я4м]

This is where heaven on earth is!

[@TechnicalInitiative]

I've barely scratched the surface, I'm sure! I need to go back and check out more from all over the country... especially smaller towns!

[@tomlee5709]

So wonderful that you can still find a lot of MD equipment/accessories in Japan

[@roninxix4428]

I’ll be going to Japan this coming year, I will definitely pick up a portable recorder.

[@TechnicalInitiative]

Good luck in your search!

[@AmbientWalking]

Thanks!!! Wow! I LOVE MINIDISC!

[@TechnicalInitiative]

You're welcome! I love them, too!

[@kenshinflyer]

I'd be looking for pocket radios (especially ones with shortwave) and melodicas.

[@DonVintaggio]

Wow MD was really big in Japan back in th day!

[@TechnicalInitiative]

oh it was HUGE! And I was there during that time - spent a lot of time there in 2001+ and didn't stock up like I should have....

[@infam0usP]

Sony was so ahead of their time with the remote controls/display screen built into the headphone cord. Apple never could even duplicate it during the height of the iPod!

[@TechnicalInitiative]

I think there was a lot more fun experimentation with designs back then!

[@Gold-Biker]

Incredible World 😀 I ❤️ MD

[@TechnicalInitiative]

Me too! Definitely stop by one or two Hard Off stores if you're in Japan!

[@Kiyoshi_9606]

I went to ~15 stores and 3x Hard-Offs, but no MD remotes, no MD decks at all! I was in Nara, Osaka, and Kyoto... Nothing!

[@TechnicalInitiative]

oh no - were you in the junk section? I would think one device might have made an appearance and one of the Discord users had some great luck in Kyoto! Sorry to hear that! I hope to keep hunting again, soon!

[@Kitsunebyanothername]

Very cool!

[@JogDog77]

wow, what a good find! would love to visit this place

[@TechnicalInitiative]

There are a lot of stores like this all over Japan - I plan to check out more next time!

[@highfidelity1989]

Very nice trip 😊

[@TechnicalInitiative]

It was fun and I wish I could have brought more things back! Next time!

[@highfidelity1989]

@@TechnicalInitiative Definitely 💯

[@tomlee5709]

I like the one at Ueno (so close to the subway station) and will definitely have a look when visiting Tokyo next time.

[@TechnicalInitiative]

Sounds like both of us will be checking it out!

[@pt.hifi.w.910]

good audio

[@just_passing_through]

You could literally scour every store like this in the whole of Australia and not find one item minidisc related. So jealous.

[@TechnicalInitiative]

I hear you - same in the US - I had to head over to Japan!

[@just_passing_through]

@@TechnicalInitiative I’ve imported a few things from Japan too, but we are 240v here, so it’s tricky.

[@diegosilang4823]

I bought MZ-R55 from Japan through eBay, I find the one from Japan are priced competitively and often includes shipping with the pricing (you just pay duties covering sales tax/VAT) The one I bought from Japan is a "global" model, so all labels are in English. Some of models are Japan only exclusive and they are in Kanji text.

[@CBitsTech]

So jealous, I'd love to go there. But I would buy it all!

[@TechnicalInitiative]

I hear you! If I wasn't packed up to move (or had less restraint...) I would definitely have picked up some!

[@CBitsTech]

@@TechnicalInitiative Great vid though.

[@Bergkatse2]

I worked in Fujisawa (you were staying across the street from my house in Sakuragicho) and would visit the Hardoff at least once a month. Got some cracking HiFi equipment there (which I shipped back to the States) they also had a great vinyl selection. The Hardoff in Ofuna was ghetto as f though. Just the worst junk from the early 00s

[@TechnicalInitiative]

That's awesome! I know if I lived nearby it'd be VERY hard to resist the temptation of stocking up on stuff!

[@bitboy]

Looked like a fun adventure, congratulations on the pickups!

[@TechnicalInitiative]

Thanks! It was a ton of fun - highly recommended! I gotta go back!

[@phatsuasinkatsu]

Was great to catch up in the south. Would've been nice if Hisayama had yielded a few better results while you were in town. Maybe next time. Or the time after that. Or the time after that ....

[@TechnicalInitiative]

Thank you so much! Fukuoka was great! Definitely more HOs to scour next time!

[@rodzalez3549]

Broooooooo... That grey pioneer xpr9dv was amazing. My brother was stationed in Japan in the 2000s. He bought that and sent it to me. It came with two small speakers. I loved that thing. Had great sound and base. Of course I couldn't play that many DVDs because of the region. One day there was some domestic situation with my father and got mad and threw away all my stuff including this... I miss it wish I could buy it again

[@TechnicalInitiative]

I didn't know a lot about that unit, but I just looked it up - sounds nice! Sounds like you had some good memories before it got tossed out :( I bet you could find it pretty cheaply if you're patient! Ppl in Japan are getting rid of these things often

[@rodzalez3549]

@@TechnicalInitiative funny you say that I just found one on eBay for 50 bills I'm thinking about grabbing it. Also because If I remember correctly you can transfer CDs to minidisc all in the unit

[@DarKnight0064]

Hi 👋 Great vid and very interesting to see ! Love Japan and sure like many I would have to buy the lot ... its perfect !!! Do you know if they send out side Japan 😅 🙏🙏🙏 Would like to see other stores that sell HiFi 😊

[@TechnicalInitiative]

Thanks and I'm glad you enjoyed it! I definitely would have bought more if I could... The best way to buy from Japan is to use a proxy like Buyee - they can search Yahoo Japan auctions or Mercari, collect it in a warehouse and ship it to you. Of course there are some fees for this, but it's the easiest way outside of a good buddy living in Japan! www.technicalinitiative.com/2023/03/buyee-get-minidiscs-and-players-and.html I'll definitely be visiting more Hard Offs (and similar) as soon as I get a chance!

[@yajiu]

Great video! It’s good to see what’s actually out there at hard off, for when I go. Could you have perhaps mailed some of those decks? It doesn’t seem too expensive on Buyee.

[@TechnicalInitiative]

Thanks! Unless you're in the area, save time by skipping the big city ones and try to find your way to the smaller neighborhoods/outskirts! I could have mailed them, but I've already got enough (for now?)... I could use a boombox though...

[@ToolsElectroDIY]

awesome video, thanks for sharing!

[@TechnicalInitiative]

Thanks! I want to definitely check out more of them! Looking forward to your Japan trip!

[@ToolsElectroDIY]

@@TechnicalInitiative I would be interested to see a video going through all of your MD collections too :D

[@TechnicalInitiative]

@ToolsElectroDIY - it's funny that you mentioned that... I can't get the whole collection out right now, but I'm going to do a focused video on one of my favorite models very soon!

[@SeanFlaherty]

I just picked up an Onkyo FR-X7A from ebay similar to the one at 1:34. Works great and has timer recording to MiniDisc. AM radio is the Japan 9 kHz spacing, so not compatible with the USA 10 kHz spacing, no big deal. I use it with a step-down transformer to provide it with Japan-style electricities.

[@TechnicalInitiative]

The Onkyo MD units are great! I don't have a compact one yet, but I do have the Onkyo FR-B8 that does Hi-MD and I love it!

[@paulr0911]

Wow TI, what a find. That sharp is almost mint, very nice player. I would have gone crazy seeing all those MD units and discs. But I should maybe not buy anymore MDs I already have over 300. Cheers, looking forward to the next one. 😉

[@TechnicalInitiative]

It really did require a lot of restraint not to buy more... Wow - that's a ton of discs!

[@myclubmax]

Very sigma channel no shitty intro background music and camera self-acting,, thumb up & subscribed immediately

[@TechnicalInitiative]

haha thank you so much! No nonsense here for sure!

[@laptopdragon]

Remember to bring your geiger counter.