Cartridges and old man

Nakatsuka-san of ZYX is another elderly man who hand makes his cartridges. Recognizing that he won't be able to work forever, he's been training several younger family members. They've been actively involved in making cartridges for a couple of years under Nakatsuka-san's supervision. This legacy is being preserved.

OTOH, consider Herb Papier, who developed and built the TriPlanar (nee, Wheaton) tonearm as a one man craftsman. As Herb neared retirement he searched for someone to assume and protect his legacy. He found a superb candidate in Tri Mai, who has continued to improve an already great tonearm while respecting its legacy.

A legacy can, but need not necessarily, be assured by an in-family succession.

IMHO, IF there's a big enough demand for the product, in this case cartridges, then there is always someone who can step up and produce said product. The key factor being that there is enough demand.

@Schubert,

You live in the past. In Japan it is becoming more and more rare to even start a family.

Japan is has the most aging population of any country world wide. Italy is second. Fewer and fewer people in Japan have children

Personally I think this is a good development, we do not need more people in the world, a few billion less would be better.

Didn't Nakatsuka-san learn his trade from the old Dynavector man. I forgot his name. I know van den Hul started at EMT making and improving their carts.

Yes, I know all that Mordante.
I didn't think it was necessary to say that in those families who have children........
Perhaps I did give"gonners too much credit as an educated
bunch.

Schubert,

Please prove that it is(more)normal in Japan to continue the family business. No anecdotal evidence please.

Maybe I'll ask a friend of mine to see if he knows. He studied Japanese.