The Extinct Media Museum: A Journey Through Forgotten Gadgets in Central Tokyo
Nestled in a quiet corner of central Tokyo, the Extinct Media Museum offers a unique glimpse into the evolution of technology. With exhibits ranging from Betacam videotapes and floppy disks to vintage Sony devices, this small but captivating museum showcases a variety of old cameras and telecommunications equipment, with the star being a 1916 Japanese-made “Lily” still camera, the oldest item in the collection.
A Flashback to the Past
The three-roomed museum’s cluttered shelves are filled with nostalgic relics, providing a sensory trip down memory lane for visitors like Mika Matsuda, 59. “It is fascinating not only for generations unfamiliar with these items, but also for those who lived through those times,” Matsuda shared during a visit on Saturday.
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“Seeing these pieces feels like I’m having a flashback of our own lives. It reminded me of how things were back then — I used to have so much fun,” she added, reflecting on the gadgets that once were a staple of everyday life.
A Belief in the Ephemeral Nature of Media
Opened in January 2023, the Extinct Media Museum was founded by Barbara Asuka, the museum’s deputy curator, with a poignant philosophy: All media equipment, except for paper and stone, will eventually “die out.” The items on display, mostly donated, offer visitors a chance to engage with obsolete technology in a tactile way.
“There’s a lot of information you can gain by holding it, like the smell,” Asuka explained, emphasizing the importance of a full sensory experience for visitors. The museum’s aim is to let people interact with these pieces, not just view them through glass displays.
A Community-Powered Collection
The museum encourages a sense of community by regularly accepting donations. On a recent Saturday, Hisashi Ito, a 56-year-old car designer, donated a small hand-held watch and cassette tapes from his personal collection.
“Even if I keep these gadgets at home, they will probably just be thrown away when I die. It’s better to share them and let people enjoy them,” Ito explained.
Museum Details
The museum is open on varying hours, and general admission is priced at around 2,000 yen ($12.70). Tickets for donors and students are offered at a reduced price of 1,000 yen. For anyone with a love for retro tech, the Extinct Media Museum is a wonderful reminder of how quickly the digital world evolves, inviting visitors to not only observe but physically interact with history.
