Japanese Audio

Since I live in Kyoto I feel like I have to offer some opinion not that it is any more valid than others. Regarding speakers(the OP was wondering) hmm good question. Japan does have Diatone that rarely see the light of day outside of its home and Yamaha, denon, pioneer etc are all quite popular in the audio stores and community but I think in higher end systems apart from TAD and pioneer it’s mostly imported. Tannoys are a standard in bars. I’ve actually never seen any other brand in bars when there is vinyl. It might be this idea ‘we do electronics well so we’ll leave speakers to others’ but I think the top reason is that Japanese tend to anoint things with prestige and once it’s been anointed there is likely no Japanese product that could dethrone it. Public opinion is huge here. There is a saying that no one does anything until they see someone else doing it. So if you are buying high end or higher end you go first with what the last guy bought or what’s considered the correct choice. No one wants to be the fool or laughed at. 

at least in the international scene, there are notably fewer well known tippy top japanese speakers compared to the many excellent top tier brands of electronics

yamaha sony pioneer all have had some well known speakers over time in various price categories, and of course audio note (japan and uk branches) have made some excellent high priced ones - but just not that many - dunno what buyers in the japan domestic market typically buy - i do know there is quite a large following in japan for british monitor speakers... these of course are revered and used by audiophiles world wide for many years

@boomerbillione, 
I do not doubt that Japanese music lovers desire authentic reproduction of indigenous music and instruments. Jazz is highly popular in Japan so I suspect that they also crave authentic reproduction of trumpets, saxophones, drum kits and piano as well 😊.

Charles

@todd_segal,
Given your observation, sounds as though conformity runs quite deep in the Japanese culture.
Charles

Thank you to everyone who has posted here, this is a wonderful thought provoking, insightful thread, so many great comments.

I built Onken speakers from info a friend directed me to and info I found on the net. Jean Hiraga who is mentioned above was the author for the articles I found. It surprised me that given the size of homes in Japan that the Onkens are so big. I used Altec 416-8A drivers and Altec 811 horns with Altec 806A drivers which are crossed at 800 hz using crossovers I built.

I use Audio Note Kit 300B mono block amps and their Mentor preamp.

A lot of what has been mentioned here applies to my system, great resolution at low levels, non fatiguing, wonderful sound that draws me back for more. 

I also have several SS systems that I also enjoy.

Again I find this a wonderful thread that many of the posters I have not seen post before.