“Reviving the Past: Tokyo Museum Takes You on a Journey Through Obsolete Technologies”

Featuring Betacam videotapes, floppy disks, and retro Sony gadgets, the venue serves as a display for archaic cameras and telecommunications apparatus, including a 1916 “Lily” still camera, the oldest item in the collection.

Amidst the cluttered shelves of the three-room museum, visitors like 59-year-old Mika Matsuda can journey back in time to explore devices that were once commonplace.

“It is captivating not only for generations unfamiliar with these artifacts, but also for those who experienced that era,” Matsuda remarked on Jan. 11.

“Encountering these items feels like a revival of our own memories. It brings back how things once were–I had a lot of joy back then,” she shared.

Inaugurated in January 2023, the museum was established on the premise that all media tools, aside from paper and stone, will ultimately “become obsolete,” as articulated by assistant curator Barbara Asuka.

The predominantly donated artifacts are arranged for hands-on exploration, promoting a complete sensory experience, she noted.

“There’s a wealth of information to gather by physically engaging with it, such as the scent,” Asuka mentioned.

“We aim for visitors to interact with these items using all five senses, rather than merely observing them behind glass,” Asuka explained.

The Extinct Media Museum frequently welcomes donations from attendees like Hisashi Ito, who contributed a small hand-held watch and cassette tapes from his own collection on Jan. 11.

“Even if I retain these devices at home, they will likely end up discarded when I pass away. It’s more worthwhile to share them and allow others to appreciate them,” the 56-year-old car designer expressed.

The museum’s operating hours differ, as indicated on its website, with general admission set at approximately 2,000 yen ($12.70). Ticket prices for contributors and students are 1,000 yen.