Akai

Akai Origin

Akai, founded in 1946 in Tokyo, Japan, as Akai Electric Company Ltd., is a manufacturer of consumer electronics. The company’s origins trace back to 1929 when it was established by Masukichi Akai and his son, Saburo Akai, as Akai Electric Company Ltd. (赤井電機株式会社, Akai Denki Kabushiki Gaisha), a Japanese manufacturer. Akai initially produced radios and expanded its product line to include various audio equipment, such as tuners, audio amplifiers, and tape recorders.

Akai’s turntables were part of their audio equipment lineup. The company’s products were often sold under different brand names in various markets, such as Roberts in the U.S., A&D in Japan, and Tensai and Transonic Strato in Western Europe. Akai adopted advanced technologies like Tandberg’s cross-field recording methods and Glass and Crystal (GX) ferrite heads to enhance their audio products, including turntables.

In 2000, the original Akai business faced a controversial collapse and was later acquired by Grande Holdings in Hong Kong. The company now distributes a range of electronic products, including LED TVs, washing machines, clothes dryers, air conditioners, and smartphones, under the Akai brand. However, the electronic instrument division, Akai Professional, was spun off in 1999 and operates under separate ownership.