New law forbidding the sale of used gear Japan

FYI to all of you....

Culturally the Japanese do not buy used anything. They basically believe the spirit of the original owner stays with his/her personal possessions forever. I am sure not everyone there believes this, but the belief is very strong.

Would you buy something without knowing who owned it before if their spirit is present in that item? It could be haunted if that person has died. You could be alienated by your friends and neighbors??

There is already a big market in the USA for mint used or refurbished Yamaha and other pianos imported from Japan because the Japanese won't buy them. US dealers will tell you the lie that the Japanese market pianos have wood that is treated for the Japan climate and will crack eventually in the USA. This lie is to get you to buy a new one from them.

I would guess that possibly many young people in Japan don't care about this tradition or belief, so the goverment is trying to hold back the tide...

I heard a caller on click and clack ( NPR ) bought a used engine from Japan as described.

What about Onkyo products from 1987-1996?
Or Panasonic? I need some power amps!

I wonder if that could have the opposite reaction, people not able to recoup part of their initial investment to put towards new gear end up using the old "unsafe" gear much longer?

Isn't this law a response to pollution from discarded electronics; mostly dumped personal computers. Isn't there pending legislation in the EU regarding this? There's alot of toxic material in that stuff! I suppose the same can be said of hi-fi equipment!

But I think a ban on selling would only increase illegal dumping!