Japan’s second-hand retail giant BOOKOFF is tapping into the vinyl revival with the launch of its own portable record player, set to drop on Record Day, November 3rd. For fans of Japanese chain store merchandise, from Family Mart socks to Don Quijote Crocs, the BOOKOFF edition turntable is priced at ¥9,878 (£50/$66 at time of press) and will be available in limited quantities at select stores across Japan.
Sporting a retro-inspired design with BOOKOFF’s signature blue and yellow colour scheme, the compact player comes equipped with built-in speakers and a dual power option – running either via USB or AA batteries – so you can spin your vinyl wherever you are. It also features digital recording, letting users transfer vinyl audio directly onto a USB drive or microSD card.
Additionally, alongside the player, BOOKOFF is introducing the “YomuYomu-kun” (literally translating to Read-Read-kun) 45 RPM adapter, based on the brand’s cutely simplistic mascot (think of it as a poor man’s Fred the flour-grader). The adapter costs ¥1,500, but the first 1,500 people who pre-order a record player will get one free.
The player launches in sync with Japan’s Record Day on November 3rd. Established in 1957 by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, Record Day has become Japan’s biggest celebration of analog records. Coinciding with Bunka no Hi (Culture Day), a national holiday dedicated to arts and culture, the day has become a focal point for vinyl enthusiasts across Japan.
For those in Japan, pre-orders for the BOOKOFF turntable are live now via BOOKOFF’s online store. Looking for some new vinyl to spin? Check out CDJapan’s extensive LP catalogue.
