“Timeless Tech: Tokyo Museum Brings Vintage Innovations to Modern Audiences”

From Betacam videotapes to floppy disks and classic Sony gadgets, the museum serves as an exhibition for antiquated cameras and telecommunications devices, including a 1916 Japanese-produced “Lily” still camera, its oldest artifact.

Within the museum’s three-room arrangement, patrons like 59-year-old Mika Matsuda can journey back to the past and the devices that were once regularly utilized.

“It is intriguing not only for those generations unfamiliar with these objects but also for those who experienced those eras,” Matsuda remarked on Saturday.

“Observing these items feels like a recollection of our own lives. It reminded me of how things were back then – I used to have so much joy,” she stated.

The museum commenced operations in January 2023 and was established with the conviction that all media devices, apart from paper and stone, will inevitably “fade away,” detailed deputy museum curator Barbara Asuka.

The predominantly donated artifacts are arranged for visitors to handle, promoting an immersive sensory adventure, she noted.

“There’s a wealth of insights to acquire by physically engaging with them, such as their aroma,” Asuka mentioned.

“Our aim is for visitors to engage with these items through all five senses instead of merely viewing them through glass,” Asuka expressed.

The museum frequently welcomes contributions from attendees like Hisashi Ito, who provided a small hand-held watch and cassette tapes from his private collection on Saturday.

“Even if I save these devices at home, they are likely to be discarded after my passing. It’s more worthwhile to share them and allow others to appreciate them,” the 56-year-old automotive designer stated.

Per its website, the Extinct Media Museum’s schedule varies. Standard admission is approximately 2,000 yen ($12.70), while tickets for contributors and students are 1,000 yen.