On Listening - Part 7: The Japanese Kissa

[@mladenbasic1]

As far as I can tell you did this as one continuous shot (other than the B roll). Your ability to convey your thoughts so clearly is amazing. I was hanging on every word!

[@febobartoli]

Thank you Jonathan! I was in Japan about 10 years ago and visited Susumu Sakuma, the famous amplifier Builder after following his schematics in MJ magazine for many years. He owned a little club called the condor he about 100 different amplifiers all hooked up to the turntable, and he could switch between them at Will. I didn't know there was a name for the little clubs where we sat and listen to music and talked about vacuum tube amplifiers with the designer, but now I know I was in kissa!

[@billwoods9302]

I've been following various Kissa bars in Japan over the last year. They love jazz and they love Accuphase amplification. That's how I also discovered Kenrick Sound in Japan, who meticulously rebuild older JBL professional speakers. Visiting one of those bars is on my bucket list. What an honor Jonathan. Congratulation on building a bridge with a respected company across the pond.

[@HoomanR17]

I completely hear you and in full resonance with what you are sharing.. it is a shame we are culturally where we are , but I imagine enough of us in the world with heightened senses and appreciation for our analogue nature will eventually turn this ship towards a brighter future. There will always be noise.. today we call that noise digital.

[@vittoriomartinidonati]

Thank you Jonathan, your remarks resound as a fresh breath of mountain air, as would have said Frederick Nietzsche.

[@hnipen]

Thanks a lot for doing this Jonathan. And yes I think people forgot how to listen. Now it´s all about having some great equipment to impress people, but what´s the point if they don´t listen. Best thing, sit down and enjoy the music, be happy with what you have 😍 Ohhh, but that K3 spinning in the back, I want one 🥰😍🤩😎

[@DismasM]

I've thought of how cool it would be to have a Kissa here near me in Seattle. Apparently there's something like it but I've never been. Like watching football, my sofa is the best seat in the house. I liked your take on giving... the Japanese are better at America than we are... skiing, trout and bass fishing, baseball, jazz, Ametora... the list goes on.

[@christophmartin5381]

And thank you for your observations and thoughts. I really share them.

[@mitchparker7652]

Thank you Jonathan. A good description of Kissa and Japanese aesthetics/virtue. To slow down, pause, take a breath, share and be grateful is anathema when any form of commerce is involved in the U.S. or Australia where I live. "The first duty of love is to listen"-Paul Tillich.

[@mfr58]

I share your ire at the cultural paucity in the west, in the manner you describe. I have also noticed that with the absolute tsunami of coffee shops in my country, England, I still have to search for a cafe that actually cares enough about what they are selling to make a cup of coffee worth drinking. They have all the kit, the image the style, but few seem bothered about what they put in the cup. And what's worse is that most people don't seem to care either, so long as they can buy into the image of cafe culture. I'm actually excited at the prospect of finding a new way, through music, to listen, as a shared activity. Of course we have live concerts/gigs, but it's only really the classical ones where people shut up to appreciate it. I hope we can extend this behaviour and the benefits it has, to allow our own kind of Kissa culture to evolve.

[@gadymarcus2362]

Bello/Magnifico.🙏✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️👑

[@velchuck]

I really enjoyed this video. What I like about the Japanese is their sense of tradition and how disciplined they are. I do admire their philosophy on life and doing the very best they can do. I love jazz and in my opinion they produce some of the best quality pressings. Thanks for this education. I really do appreciate it.

[@merlinthemagus]

Tokyo and Japan in general is absolutely next level. Culturally, Japan is unfathomably deep. Every time that I go there and return to the United States I see and feel the chasm. I love Japan so much. Even more so now.

[@artyfhartie2269]

They are full of themselves, arrogant, xenophobic and racist as phuck

[@paulpavlou9294]

I was in Japan last year, I couldn’t get into a record bar as they were full or you needed to make a booking. I found some great record stores like Disc Union in Tokyo that had three stores in Shaba with a fantastic selection of new and used records that were well organised and all used records graded in condition which pretty much were in pristine condition. This is reflected by the people which were clean, respectful and honest. The Japanese people are amazing. They are also very passionate about hifi, music and the gear they use.

[@143GADGETS]

I would absolutely LOVE if you create something like this here. I’d drive up from DC at least two a month. 🙌🏾🤘🏾👏🏾

[@justanaverageguytoday]

Been a big fan of AT for years.

[@miguelflo2]

I noticed that too! In a lot of the audio show KZbin videos the turntable is just sitting there.

[@oliv9768]

Given its turmoil ; many in the world could, really, use such ( embraced ) escapism. As far as the, appropriate, clientele ; ( unfortunately ) we’ve been, ceremoniously, groomed in the fine art of, superficial, egotism - exhibits A & B : our, fearless, “ leaders ” and the many that fund them : American idols. Thanks for such, culture, enlightenment ; Mr. Weiss.

[@wa4aos]

You are so RIGHT !! I've been to Jazz clubs and performances all over the US and the majority of the time people are so self absorbed with their own nonsensical BS and pointless chit-chat that the performance is either badly degraded or ruined. Still, I go when I can to at least "HOPE" to enjoy the efforts of these extraordinary musicians. I'd be amazingly delighted to have enjoyed just a small percentage of the many performances I've attended over the years. There is a time for talking and having a good time, however, there are times when one should keep his/her BIG FAT, loudmouth pie-hole SHUT !! Thanks for starting a way overdo dialog regarding public rudeness/inconsideration; maybe some will listen !!

[@christophmartin5381]

I remember a "Kissa" in Bangkok with a Western Electric WE16a replica, such a smooth and beautiful cafe. Unfortunately they close some years ago.

[@CUBICUB]

Well said

[@misterarcane3863]

100 % agree. These western listening bars are just hipster hang outs and totally miss the point. Great video.

[@57Canham]

Breakthrough video

[@Inlinefour-m9j]

Vi går al' på da' lokum å skier så et' braver, oss' dig der do'

[@francois0013]

Dear Jonathan, how great of an assessment of the Japanese culture and way of thinking about music and living this is! Congratulation! The only problem is that with all of your amazing knowledge and experience about music reproduction devices, you've decided to target the 99% of the richest people in the world who can afford your gear! This makes no sense and is in total contradiction with the Japanese way of thinking about music and how to make it accessible to "ordinary" people! I admire your work, but not so much your philosophy about money making....