There are still those for whom the world spins at exactly 33 revolutions per minute. Digital MP3 downloads and YouTube videos may now be the formats of choice in the home and clubs, but the sound of a cartridge needle riding over the groove of a vinyl slab — scratches, skips and all — is quite literally music to the ears of many audiophiles.
In an effort to raise awareness for this niche format, this weekend vinyl junkies will be asked to put their styluses aside and pick up pencils. Toyo Kasei, the owner of Japan's last fully functioning pressing plant, will hold a proficiency exam dedicated solely to stacks of wax.
"The exam is designed to expose a new audience to the joy of vinyl records," says Eiji Hirata, special assistant to the president. "We also would like those from older generations to revisit the experience of listening to them."