Casio’s G-Shock watch, Sony’s 1st CD player make tech heritage list

n n

Can a wristwatch change your life? The National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo thinks so.

The museum on Sept. 3 added Casio Computer Co.’s G-Shock impact-resistant watch to a list of Japanese items that have enormous significance in changing people’s lives.

The watch was among 26 items registered on that day as a national technology heritage at the 12th round of Essential Historical Materials for Science and Technology.

Released in 1983, the first G-Shock series, called the DW-5000C, featured a shock-resistant structure that cushioned its electronic components.

The museum said the design enabled people who enjoyed playing sports or outdoor activities to wear the watch.

Also making the list was the Nikon F single-lens reflex camera, released in 1959 by Nikon Corp.’s predecessor, Japan Optical Industry Co.

The museum said the product raised the international reputation of made-in-Japan cameras.

“It reigned supreme as the product for professionals for more than 15 years,” featuring a leading-edge lens mount and a completely automatic aperture-adjustment function, according to the museum.

The museum also selected Sony Corp.’s D-50, the world’s first portable CD player, which was the parent model for the company’s Walkman CD players.

When it came out in 1984, the D-50 was sold for under 50,000 yen ($472), which encouraged people to listen to CDs on the go.

The world’s first CD player, the CDP-101, another Sony legend that debuted in 1982, was also registered.

The 26 items registered also included the D-1 electronic organ developed in 1959 by Nippon Gakki Co., which is today’s Yamaha Corp.

Known as Mirai Technology Heritages, the national museum-led recognition system was introduced in fiscal 2008 to preserve significant industrial assets. “Mirai” is Japanese for future.

Including the latest items registered, a total of 285 products have been recognized as technology heritages.

n n