A Fusion of the Limited-Edition “Hotaru” (1,000 Units) and Traditional Japanese Aesthetics: A Report on Audio-Technica’s “Garden of Temporal Traces” in New York, an Event to Experience the “analog ~ naturally” Philosophy Through the Five Senses

Hello! I am Kanai from the 8th Division of the Public Relations Business Headquarters.

As a sequel to our report on Milan Design Week 2025 with Shuzo Ohira, we are now bringing you the latest from Audio-Technica’s event in New York City.

In conjunction with this event, SUNNY SIDE UP invited and hosted local U.S.-based influencers, supporting the dissemination of information through social media outreach.

During the two-day sound installation event “Garden of Temporal Traces” held by Audio-Technica on August 22 and 23, 2025, at “Studio 525” in New York’s Chelsea district, SUNNY SIDE UP supported information sharing via social media by inviting and hosting local influencers.

What I witnessed on-site was an art piece to be experienced with all five senses, setting it apart from typical product launch events. I would like to share those moving moments with you all.

Connecting with Traditional Japanese Aesthetics in the “Garden of Temporal Traces”

The centerpiece of this event is the limited-edition “Hotaru” turntable, which was officially unveiled in April 2025 during Milan Design Week 2025 in Italy.

As the name “Hotaru” (meaning “firefly” in Japanese) suggests, the entire event was deeply rooted in traditional Japanese aesthetics, such as transience, tranquility, and harmony with nature.

Similar to the previous installation in Milan, the core concept in expressing Audio-Technica’s “analog ~ naturally” philosophy was to “feel sound throughout the entire space and visualize the musical experience itself.”

Delicate installations woven from multiple “layers of sound” were placed throughout the venue. As visitors moved through the space, they enjoyed a unique experience, feeling as if they had become a component of the sound itself.

Five Installations Weaving the Space

Various installations designed to stimulate the five senses were scattered throughout the venue, centered around the “Hotaru.” Each played a different role and served as a key element in composing this soundscape.

0. The Outside World

The tea room, which served as the theme for this event, is often referred to as an “extraordinary space.” While it is a “microcosm” that shuts out external authority and social status, it is also an “infinitely open space.” This exhibition sought harmony with the outside world by incorporating various natural sounds from New York and the bustle of the city.

1. The Pathway (Roji)

The small path leading to a tea room is called a “Roji.” It serves as a boundary separating the mundane world from a pure space, designed to naturally slow one’s pace and calm the mind. The footsteps of visitors, recorded unconsciously, became part of the music.

2. The Mound of Sand

A mound of sand is a sign of “purification” and is considered a lucky charm to welcome guests. It can also be seen as a microcosm of nature, which is constantly changing its form. In this exhibition, this continuous and fluctuating presence resonated through the space as subtle noise.

3. The Circular Water

The “Tsukubai” (washbasin) in a tea garden is used for physical purification. The circular water surface represents a mirror, reflecting the heart and embodying the spirit of the tea ceremony: “Wakei Seijaku” (harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility). The sound of water droplets reflected the concepts of “Fukinsei” (asymmetry) and “Wabi-sabi,” which affirm beauty found in imperfection, showcasing the beauty of nature.

4. The Bell

In a tea garden, there is a bell called a “Kansho” used to invite guests. It symbolizes the Japanese concept of “time = a series of milestones and transitions of space,” rather than the Western “time = a homogeneous continuum.” It highlights “this very moment” and represents irreversible time that never returns.

5. The Main Tea Room and HOTARU

The interior of the tea room is acoustically designed to create a special sound experience. Rather than completely blocking out external sounds, it incorporates some of them to weave a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The music changes constantly based on the presence of visitors and performers. The “HOTARU” placed in the center sat prominently not merely as a playback device, but as a medium for all elements, much like a tea bowl.

Recording “Traces of Time” on the Spot

The most moving aspect of this event was the ability to take home this unique sound experience in a tangible form. The sounds that visitors experienced and unconsciously created were visualized by an oscilloscope and cut onto records in real-time by three cutting machines located at the back of the venue.

Visitors were able to take their experience home as a tangible record. A new, once-in-a-lifetime experience is born whenever it is played again, depending on the location, time, and the people present. It was a supreme installation that embodied Audio-Technica’s goal: “to go beyond mere audio equipment and explore the world that music expands.”

Hotaru: A Turntable Pursuing a New Analog Experience

The star of this event, the “Hotaru” turntable, is a product that fuses Audio-Technica’s long-standing commitment to analog technology with a challenging design philosophy.

The most significant feature of the “Hotaru,” limited to 1,000 units worldwide, is its floating turntable. By using magnetic force to suspend the turntable component—which is highly susceptible to vibration—it eliminates sound distortion caused by external influences, providing a higher-quality musical experience.

Furthermore, the “Hotaru” is equipped with a lighting system featuring 20 color tones and three modes, where the light changes in response to the music. This creates a multi-sensory experience where sight and sound intersect.

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for turntables as interior decor, with more people enjoying them visually. The “Hotaru” extends this visual enjoyment beyond the turntable itself to the music recorded on the vinyl, creating a space where music and interior design merge. This allows the moment of listening to music to be felt more deeply throughout the entire space, elevating it into a memorable experience.

By fusing the “Hotaru” with various installations inspired by a tea room, this event presented a new value in not just “listening” to music, but “experiencing” it.

This New York event, “Garden of Temporal Traces,” was a wonderful showcase for Audio-Technica to share the latest evolution of its “analog ~ naturally” philosophy with the world.

The “Hotaru” fuses the “aesthetic of transience”—which cherishes every moment spent with music—with cutting-edge technology. I am excited to see how the arrival of this product will bring a fresh breeze to vinyl culture.

This concludes my report from New York.

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