Toyo Kasei

In the late 2000s, Toyo Kasei’s Suehiro factory in coastal Yokohama was the only active record pressing plant in Asia. In the face of calls to withdraw from the business, the company’s founder held firm – and was soon vindicated when quality-conscious music enthusiasts the world over started flocking back to physical media.

Famed for its borderline obsessive quality assurance process, Toyo Kasei is a trusted name especially in Southeast Asia, where demand is high for made-in-Japan vinyl. The company is also noted for its rare ability to conduct the entire record-production process in house, from cutting and pressing to printing custom labels. Keep an eye out for irregular open-door events and record markets.