ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the 'personal emotional investments' of Japanese audiophiles from historical and cultural points of view, as there are no clear boundaries between audiophiles and casual stereo consumers. It expresses that it is not sufficient to be an audiophile in a similar way as owning a large collection of vinyl does not automatically lead to self-recognition as a record collector. The chapter begins with a historical background of Japanese audio society then examines its affective shape based on the interviews with a dozen audiophiles on their self-history, motivation, philosophy and pleasure. It also expresses that their apparent 'fetishism' is less concerned with shopping excessively and mindlessly than with crafting an identity through leisure activity, incorporating special knowledge, the technology and the purchase. Audiophiles and music lovers share the same technological objects. The chapter considers two practical and conceptual aspects of the scene: handicraft and hi-fidelity.
