A Culmination of 40 Years of IKEDA Innovation

A commemorative model featuring IKEDA's first one-piece diamond cantilever

For the first time in IKEDA’s history, this special anniversary model features a solid one-piece diamond cantilever. The stylus, formed integrally with the cantilever, adopts a Micro Ridge profile for unmatched groove tracing fidelity.

The damping system employs a dual-damper mechanism using carefully selected materials of differing hardness—designed to optimize tracking stability, suppress unwanted resonances, and enrich low-frequency response.

Both the base and body are precision-machined from ultra-duralumin, the highest-strength aluminum alloy. For the first time in IKEDA's lineup, these components are finished with a luxurious platinum plating. The inner base incorporates a special vibration-damping alloy renowned for its superior absorption characteristics.

Visually, the cartridge is beautifully polished and platinum-plated to a mirror-like finish. Internally, the power generation coil uses silver wire with the highest conductivity in the world, delivering signal purity of the highest order.

From the moment the stylus touches the record, the listener is transported—drawn into the very acoustic space where the great musicians once performed.
This is the essence of IKEDA Sound Labs., distilled through four decades of research, development, and an unwavering pursuit of ultimate fidelity.

Key Features

1. The Striking Presence of a One-Piece Diamond Cantilever

Crafted from a single crystal diamond with an integrated stylus tip,
this one-piece cantilever design eliminates joints—enabling ultra-precise tracking of the record groove’s finest vibrations.

It achieves an unprecedented level of purity in information retrieval, resolution, and spatial expression.

Rediscover the music and emotional expression your favorite records have always aspired to convey.

2. Triple Benefits of a Dual-Damper System with Carefully Selected Hardness

Unlike previous IKEDA MC cartridges, KOHAKU features a dual-damper mechanism designed with two different levels of hardness. This innovation serves three key purposes:

• Enhanced operational stability

• Further suppression of unwanted resonance

• Richer, more defined low-frequency reproduction

These design choices are the result of the deep expertise and practical experience of Akiko Ishiyama, IKEDA's master cartridge builder. In addition to developing MC cartridges for decades, she has also overseen the creation and overhaul of cantilever-less MC models—knowledge that now finds expression in this new generation cartridge.

3. Generator Coil Made with the World’s Highest Conductivity Silver Wire

The KOHAKU generator coil uses a special silver wire known for its unparalleled conductivity. Multiple materials—including 4N OFC and PCOCC—were tested and auditioned in real listening environments. It was only when this particular silver wire, personally meaningful to the builder, was used that the sound aligned perfectly with KOHAKU’s sonic vision.

The result is a presentation marked by striking clarity and gracefully lingering resonance, bringing out a vivid and emotionally engaging listening experience.

4. A Mirror-Polished Platinum Finish—Where Aesthetic Beauty Meets IKEDA Design Philosophy

The body and base are precisely machined from extra super duralumin, the highest-strength aluminum alloy, and then meticulously polished to a mirror-like finish using a buffing process.
One of IKEDA's long-held theories about sound design is that "corners trap stagnation."
That is why many IKEDA products feature rounded contours.

After the founder passed the baton to the second generation, the new generation—who possessed advanced buffing expertise—pushed this theory even further. The polishing techniques perfected during this pursuit are fully realized in the commemorative model KOHAKU.

As for the plating, which plays a critical role in sound quality, various options were prototyped and tested. Ultimately, platinum plating was chosen for its superior conductivity and strong resistance to rust and discoloration.
The result is a body that combines high rigidity with striking visual beauty—satisfying both the ear and the eye.

5. The Symbol and the Intention Behind KOHAKU’s First-Ever Dual-Layer Printing

For the first time in IKEDA's history, a symbolic mark has been printed above the product name on the cartridge body. According to its creator, Akiko Ishiyama, the symbol represents “light.”
It was based on a sketch she personally drew, later refined into the final polished design.

The silk-screening process also reflects a new creative challenge.
The color yellow, chosen to symbolize light, was especially important to the designer. However, when printed directly onto the platinum-plated surface, the yellow lacked vibrancy—it was visually absorbed by the reflective finish.

To overcome this, we developed a dual-layer printing technique.
First, a slightly larger version of the design is printed in white directly onto the body. Once dry, a separate, more refined yellow design is printed on top of the white base layer.

This layering method allows the yellow to stand out vividly and gain a sense of depth.
The resulting symbol expresses a delicate balance between the cool brilliance of platinum and the warmth and softness found in KOHAKU’s sound signature.

Message from the Developer

— Akiko Ishiyama, Cartridge Builder, IKEDA Sound Labs. (2025)

The development of KOHAKU began in celebration of the 40th anniversary of IKEDA Sound Labs. Coincidentally, I.T. Industry—the manufacturer—also reached its 50th anniversary.

This commemorative model was inspired by a wish left behind by our former president:

“I’d like to hear the sound of a one-piece diamond cantilever.”

With that desire in mind, I set out to bring his vision to life.

The one-piece diamond cantilever, where the square-cut diamond stylus and cantilever are formed as a single unit, offers exceptional spatial articulation and micro-detail. To complement its tonal qualities, I engaged in a long, iterative process of listening, combining materials, and tuning—guided by the airy, crystalline highs characteristic of silver wire.

The name KOHAKU (冴鉑) draws from two ideas:

• “冴” represents a crisp, clear tone like the piercing light before dawn.

• “鉑,” typically meaning platinum, is also read phonetically from the right as shirogane, a poetic word for silver—reflecting the cartridge’s luminous sonic character.

Now, at last, the sound I’ve been striving to deliver is complete.
I invite you to experience KOHAKU’s radiant highs and the profound stillness between the notes.

Model Name: KOHAKU - 冴鉑 -
Generator Type: Moving Coil (MC)
Output Voltage: 0.5mV
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5–1.8g (1.75g recommended)
Impedance: 4.0Ω
Weight: 12.5g
Note: The IS-2TCR1 shown in the photo is not included.