Thank You for Visiting the Analog Audio Fair 2025!

Good evening!

The Analog Audio Fair 2025 was held last weekend at Sompo Hall in Ochanomizu, Tokyo.
As announced in advance, IKEDA Sound Labs. participated in the event with the kind cooperation of Kajihara Lab Inc.

At recent listening events, a now well-known combination has become a staple:
our flagship dynamic balance tonearm "IT-407SS" paired with the diamond-cantilever MC cartridge "Akiko".
We hope many of you were able to fully enjoy the performance of this pairing.

These two models were the final works of our late predecessor, and I personally hold a deep emotional connection to them.

Although I had personal commitments on Saturday, I attended the event on Sunday afternoon as a guest.
However, seeing Mr. Kajihara managing things solo, I couldn’t resist jumping in to help partway through the event (laughs).
Later, Ms. Akiko Ishiyama, our cartridge builder at IKEDA Sound Labs., also joined in to assist in my place.

One moment that really touched me personally was the round of applause from the audience after playing the live version of Tatsuro Yamashita's “Christmas Eve.”
It was a deeply moving experience—a moment where I felt truly fulfilled as a creator, hearing the audience's honest reaction in real-time.

To be honest, I had hoped to share more behind-the-scenes stories from the development process.
But as I was there mainly in the role of a guest (and part-time helper), I refrained from speaking too much.
Still, I was glad to have had the chance to say a few words at the end.

There were a few surprise talks at the venue as well, and we hope to see you again at a future IKEDA Sound Labs. event.
We’ll be sure to announce it on our website, so please look forward to joining us and enjoying the music once again.

Though we seem to be entering a rainy and unpredictable season—especially on the weekends—
we wish you a wonderful analog audio life.

Warm regards,
IKEDA Sound Labs. – Website Team