Exactly 40 years have passed since the introduction of the Walkman TPS-L2, the first cassette player that forever changed the way you listen to music.
It would not be a big exaggeration to say that the creation of the player is one of the most important events in the history of Sony. And the Walkman brand has become the most iconic for the company, even if its fame has faded over the years, and the very idea of listening to music on a specialized device is now understandable only to music lovers.
To celebrate the legacy of the Walkman, Sony held in Tokyo, an exhibition called "Walkman in the Park". The venue was the public space Ginza Sony Park in Tokyo's Ginza Ward. Previously, there was an old company building designed by Japanese architect Yoshinobu Ashihara and built in 1966. Once this building, which was a vivid example of postmodern architecture, even became part of the Sony cult. Now this building no longer exists, and a new one is planned to be built in its place.
It is important to note that Sony did not create the usual dull exhibition. The company has put a lot of effort into recreating the very spirit of the era when Walkman was considered a mandatory attribute for any self-respecting young man. The focus is on the experience of using these products and the sensations they create.
At the entrance, visitors were greeted by a large installation in the form of a bright yellow Sports Walkman FM. Next, there are stands with a variety of Walkman models. At the same time, you could touch some of them with your hands and listen to cassette recordings through cheap plastic headphones, plunging into the atmosphere of the 80s. A separate place was allocated for the TPS-L2 with two 3.5 mm jacks, to which a pair of headphones was connected at once. At the time of the gradual extinction of the familiar connector, this should have caused special feelings among lovers of the "classics".
But the center of the exposition was the Walkman Wall - an installation in the form of a large showcase, on which various models of players were exhibited - the very first cassette, disk, MD and the latest digital solutions. It was a magnificent sight for people who are still nostalgic about the past era.
