"Cassette Day" Announced to Commemorate 60th Anniversary of Domestic Cassette Tape Production!

Cassette tapes were standardized by Philips in the Netherlands in 1962, and Japanese manufacturers began production in 1966. This year marks the 60th anniversary of their domestic production. In response to the resurgence of Japanese brands that once dominated the world in cassettes and players, and the growing desire for analog lifestyles in recent years, we will hold an exhibition event called "Cassette Day" from July to August. The event, themed "TRACE" (tracing the path), aims to allow people to experience the appeal of cassettes, which have become a topic of conversation due to their cute design. The event is structured around five themes, represented by the acronym "TRACE": Try: Experience Cassettes! Revival: Nostalgia for Past Designs! Art: Enjoy Cassette Art! Culture: Experience New Tape Culture! Exhibition: A Gathering of Boomboxes! Revival Project: We are planning a revival project of vintage items by CASSETTE EXPRESS. (Details to be announced later) T - Try: Get Hands-On with Cassettes! Bring your own cassettes from home to listen, dub (copy), or record your voice and take it home as a time capsule – an experience to touch and feel cassettes. R - Revival: Relive the Designs of Yesteryear! A revival product project by CASSETTE EXPRESS, featuring items no longer commonly seen. A - Art: Delight in Cassette Art! Exhibition of works by designers who create art using cassette tapes. We are also holding a general call for label designs for the cassette tapes to be displayed. C - Culture: Experience a New Tape Culture! Remix plays by "Cassette DJs," who are gaining global attention. DJing with cassette tapes, not records or CDs, is a must-see. E - Exhibition: A Collection of Boomboxes! An archive of cassette players, including large boomboxes. Additionally, opportunities to listen to cassette players currently on the market. We are planning a week-long exhibition at a cassette cafe in Shibuya, Tokyo, as well as in Sendai and Hakone, on the following dates. We aim for visitors to slowly touch, see, feel, and reminisce about cassettes, while also making new discoveries. We hope to disseminate information from a cultural perspective on the advantages of cassettes as a medium for engaging with music in one's lifestyle, and to provide opportunities for socializing. Furthermore, through the sponsorship of audio equipment manufacturers and distributors, visitors can enjoy cassette audio using currently available trial equipment. Limited original goods and products will also be presented to attendees. (Details to be announced on the official website) Sponsors: Toshiba Lifestyle Corporation, TEAC Corporation, Denkyosha Co., Ltd., and others. Venue Schedule SHIBUYA: July 25 - July 31 CASSE 1F Takahashi Bldg., 3-2-13 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo A cafe where you can listen to cassette tapes in Shibuya. SENDAI: August 7 - August 11 Staghorn Records Analog Media Cafe 2F Komatsu Bussan Bldg., 1-4-28 Ichibancho, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture An analog media cafe offering new and used records, cassettes, and books. HAKONE: August 23 - August 29 WPÜ HAKONE 1320-179 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture A chill space in the Hakone nature, where you can feel a gentle connection between people. *The Sendai and Hakone venues will primarily feature art exhibitions (event details to be announced later). Why not design a label for cassette tapes? Freely design logos and text, and CASSETTE EXPRESS, a cassette tape manufacturer, will create a unique cassette with your design to be exhibited at the venue! We welcome applications not only from artists and designers but also from children's drawings and handwritten labels for original mixtapes that evoke memories of the past! We look forward to many applications! Details here: www.cassettedays.net Highly acclaimed works will receive awards such as portable players and cassette tapes, along with various other benefits as副賞 (supplementary prizes). Please apply enthusiastically! ● Participation Fee: Free ● Application Period: June 9, 2026 - July 22, 2026 ● How to Apply: Click the template on the official website to download the template. Save the designed file to an online storage service, then paste the required information and the uploaded link into the entry form on the official website and submit. Please contact the secretariat below for more details. Official Website URL: www.cassettedays.net CASSETTE WEEK Japan Secretariat (Side-B Creations Co., Ltd.)