I Can't Live Without My Radio....

[Lasonic TRC-920]

Well, as an American this weekend we celebrate our 234th year as a country.

However, I am in Japan, Okinawa to be exact visiting my wife who works out here. Yesterday we went down to the beach for a festival on one of the many US military bases here. It was nice, Families playing, kids spalshing in the water. Later that day we went back to the house and fired up the grill. I cracked a few beers and watched some chicken sizzle.

The rest of the weekend will be the same as we celebrate the 4th of July.

BUT THERE IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING MISSING!

MY RADIO!

I did not bring a Ghettoblaster with me. Oh, in my mind the cost of flying it out, then having to fly it home again. Plus I really thought I would have found one for sale out here, but after exhaustive searching, NOTHING! I even put an ad in the local paper and have hit 25 plus thrift (type) stores. NOTHING!

So I have to say, going to the beach, BBQ'n, partying and drinking beer is just not the same with out a radio in my hand.

I wanted to cruise the shore yesterday CRANKING it loud and proud. I wanted to sit out back with beer in hand watching the meat burn. But No Dice!

So I say to all the Boom Box Brothers WORLD WIDE! Crank it up loud for me this weekend....

Because "YOU KNOW I CAN'T LIVE WITH OUT MY RADIO!"

 

[Fatdog]

Will do, Brother Chris! It does seem a little odd that the "birthplace" of portable audio doesn't have any old units still around.

Enjoy the rest of your stay in Japan.

 

[MONOLITHIC]

The thing is... which box to take. I think having a box that can't be found in Japan is the way to go... A Rising 20/20, a Lasonic TRC-920 or a Conion C-100F would f*ck heads up over there.

I've got visions of walking the streets of Tokyo - Shinjuku and Harajuku especially - and carrying my TC-999. Not sure how cool that would be 'cause Tokyo ain't Philly and blasting a box in certain spots there, even at a moderate volume, might not be acceptable due to cultural differences. Still, I bet I can score mad points in the Harajuku area (definitely B-Boy Park) 'cause everyone who's there wants attention.

If I decide to go back to Tokyo next year, I'm shipping that box there and back.

 

[ford93]

I remember seeing a thread of a Japanese store on S2G. I remember it was a store slash museum. I remember seeing pics. of it on S2G and boy did they have a display, who knows it may not even exist anymore.

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

Will do, Brother Chris! It does seem a little odd that the "birthplace" of portable audio doesn't have any old units still around.

Enjoy the rest of your stay in Japan.

Hey FD, That's what I would have thought. That there would be some great finds to be had. But so far....not one! I have been trying to find something cool on Yahoo.jp but nothing that really floats my boat! I'll be working it till I come home!

The thing is... which box to take. I think having a box that can't be found in Japan is the way to go... A Rising 20/20, a Lasonic TRC-920 or a Conion C-100F would f*ck heads up over there.

I've got visions of walking the streets of Tokyo - Shinjuku and Harajuku especially - and carrying my TC-999. Not sure how cool that would be 'cause Tokyo ain't Philly and blasting a box in certain spots there, even at a moderate volume, might not be acceptable due to cultural differences. Still, I bet I can score mad points in the Harajuku area (definitely B-Boy Park) 'cause everyone who's there wants attention.

If I decide to go back to Tokyo next year, I'm shipping that box there and back.

hey Monolithic, It would be GREAT to have my Lasonic here right now! And I think your right, just walking down the street "Blasting the knob" would absolutely offend as the cultural differences are to great. These people are so kind and respectful that I would never do that to them. But at the beach with other Americans or at home with the BBQ would be so awesome right now!

NOW, On the streets of Tokyo might be different. And if your playing some Japanese Hip Hop, I'm sure you'd get some looks of approval!

I remember seeing a thread of a Japanese store on S2G. I remember it was a store slash museum. I remember seeing pics. of it on S2G and boy did they have a display, who knows it may not even exist anymore.

Yeah, your talking about TURBO SONIC http://turbosonic.net/en/ I have tried to email them and see if I could stop by or get something shipped to Okinawa, but I haven't gotten a reply. They have just reopened their store and have some great radios for sale!

 

[ford93]

That Sony CF-6600 look sooooo good!

 

[toasty]

Why worry about shipping? Just take it as hand luggage on your flight xD

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

Why worry about shipping? Just take it as hand luggage on your flight xD

Oh believe me, that came to mind...EXCEPT who travels on a plane with an early 80's radio who has a 24 inch beard!

Only people who want to miss there flight!

This is actually an older pic, The beards about 8 inches longer now! The beard does what the beard wants!

 

[MONOLITHIC]

You should be able to fly. You'll most definitely have to put the box thru the x-ray machine tho.

Tell 'em it's valuable and you've gotta carry it so it won't get damaged... They'll probably stuff it somewhere until the flight is over.

That Sony CF-6600 look sooooo good!

If you're talking about the one in my avatar, this Sony is it's bigger brother, the CFS-V8. I do want a CF-6600 tho.

Thanks Ford!

 

[Gluecifer]

Haha! If we combined your beard and my dreads we could guarantee never being allowed to fly on a plane.

Ghettoblaster or not!



Rock On.

 

[oldskool69]

Haha! If we combined your beard and my dreads we could guarantee never being allowed to fly on a plane.

Ghettoblaster or not!

Rock On.

It would be cool to go over there kick some tunes with a blaster. I guarantee that while some would definitely hate it there would be lot's of kids around and as you know, when a fad is started in Japan that catches on...retro boomers anyone?

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

Haha! If we combined your beard and my dreads we could guarantee never being allowed to fly on a plane.

Ghettoblaster or not!

Rock On.

NO WAY BRO, you and I would get UP GRADED! Full Blown Rock Star Status! That or go straight to jail. One or the other.

It would be cool to go over there kick some tunes with a blaster. I guarantee that while some would definitely hate it there would be lot's of kids around and as you know, when a fad is started in Japan that catches on...retro boomers anyone?

Makes you wonder if the kids over in Japan are so used to these electronics that they just aren't impressed?? No WiFi, No internet! No touch Screen. No MP3??

 

[MONOLITHIC]

hey Monolithic, It would be GREAT to have my Lasonic here right now! And I think your right, just walking down the street "Blasting the knob" would absolutely offend as the cultural differences are to great. These people are so kind and respectful that I would never do that to them. But at the beach with other Americans or at home with the BBQ would be so awesome right now!

NOW, On the streets of Tokyo might be different. And if your playing some Japanese Hip Hop, I'm sure you'd get some looks of approval!

I don't know about Okinawa but I think you've learned a VERY important lesson: next time you go overseas, bring (or ship) your Lasonic TRC-920! Trust me when I say that anybody with a camera WILL want to take a picture of them and you with that box!

Besides, can't nothing be cooler than being the one foreigner they remember for years and years.

I've been blasting my TC-999 for most of the day... I swear, if I go back to Tokyo next year, I'm taking (or shipping) that box! Everything about it is perfect for the trip there: it's light enough to carry around without much trouble; it's gold and big enough to grab the attention of almost anybody in sight - even with the sound off - and it sounds good!

Japanese Hip-Hop is something they wouldn't expect from a foreigner... It certainly would break the ice with some of the locals.

It would be cool to go over there kick some tunes with a blaster. I guarantee that while some would definitely hate it there would be lot's of kids around and as you know, when a fad is started in Japan that catches on...retro boomers anyone?

Anybody 30 years old and under would be wide-fargin-open to it, without a doubt!

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

hey Monolithic, It would be GREAT to have my Lasonic here right now! And I think your right, just walking down the street "Blasting the knob" would absolutely offend as the cultural differences are to great. These people are so kind and respectful that I would never do that to them. But at the beach with other Americans or at home with the BBQ would be so awesome right now!

NOW, On the streets of Tokyo might be different. And if your playing some Japanese Hip Hop, I'm sure you'd get some looks of approval!

I don't know about Okinawa but I think you've learned a VERY important lesson: next time you go overseas, bring (or ship) your Lasonic TRC-920! Trust me when I say that anybody with a camera WILL want to take a picture of them and you with that box!

Besides, can't nothing be cooler than being the one foreigner they remember for years and years.

I've been blasting my TC-999 for most of the day... I swear, if I go back to Tokyo next year, I'm taking (or shipping) that box! Everything about it is perfect for the trip there: it's light enough to carry around without much trouble; it's gold and big enough to grab the attention of almost anybody in sight - even with the sound off - and it sounds good!

Japanese Hip-Hop is something they wouldn't expect from a foreigner... It certainly would break the ice with some of the locals.

It would be cool to go over there kick some tunes with a blaster. I guarantee that while some would definitely hate it there would be lot's of kids around and as you know, when a fad is started in Japan that catches on...retro boomers anyone?

Anybody 30 years old and under would be wide-fargin-open to it, without a doubt!

I totally agree, I will be bringing the 920 with me next time (Christmas/New Years). It's been a very lonely ride with out it!

I bet walking around Tokyo blasting Japanese Hip Hop out of your TC-999 would get the looks! I have already had some Japanese ask to take their picture with me! Very cool indeed.

Having the Lasonic with me would be cool since it's an American brand! That should blow some minds!

 

[MONOLITHIC]

I have already had some Japanese ask to take their picture with me! Very cool indeed.

Yeah, that's the thing about being an American in Japan - you're a very rare sight to some of them. And if you've got a camera in your hand, you might get this reaction from school kids:

I got the same reaction from school kids who were riding by on a bus a few weeks later... Still cracks me up.

Just imagine if you had that box with you... INSTANT SUPERSTAR STATUS!!!

Having the Lasonic with me would be cool since it's an American brand! That should blow some minds!

Perhaps that's why those TRC-975's and TRC-931's sell for top dollar over there... How those Lasonics end up over there in the first place kinda baffles me tho.

Still, I've never seen a TRC-920 in a Yahoo Japan auction. I bet they weren't even sold in Japan when they were out back in the day...

I wonder if you'd get some serious offers right there on the street to buy it from you.

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

I have already had some Japanese ask to take their picture with me! Very cool indeed.

Yeah, that's the thing about being an American in Japan - you're a very rare sight to some of them. And if you've got a camera in your hand, you might get this reaction from school kids:
[ Image ]

[ Image ]
I got the same reaction from school kids who were riding by on a bus a few weeks later... Still cracks me up.

Just imagine if you had that box with you... INSTANT SUPERSTAR STATUS!!!

Having the Lasonic with me would be cool since it's an American brand! That should blow some minds!

Perhaps that's why those TRC-975's and TRC-931's sell for top dollar over there... How those Lasonics end up over there in the first place kinda baffles me tho.

Still, I've never seen a TRC-920 in a Yahoo Japan auction. I bet they weren't even sold in Japan when they were out back in the day...

I wonder if you'd get some serious offers right there on the street to buy it from you.

Super Star Status for the RADIO!

I agree, I saw one 975 on Yahoo.jp and the i931. But I have never seen a 920. Someone would need a real fist full of Yen to get that box out of my hand!

I just bib on something I hope I win....More details if I do...I don't want to jinks myself!