New law forbidding the sale of used gear Japan

I wonder if that could have the opposite reaction, people not able to recoup part of their initial investment to put towards new gear end up using the old "unsafe" gear much longer?

Isn't this law a response to pollution from discarded electronics; mostly dumped personal computers. Isn't there pending legislation in the EU regarding this? There's alot of toxic material in that stuff! I suppose the same can be said of hi-fi equipment!

But I think a ban on selling would only increase illegal dumping!

sugerbrie, cool factoid about the japanese thinking the owners spirit resides in their posessions. I'm not sure about most stuff but when it comes to things like instruments (i have a good case of guitar acquisition ...GAS...to go along with liking audio gear)i think they may be on to somethig. Old pieces just have a vibe that the new ones don't

The Japanese don't seem to mind those "spirits" when it comes to vintage MacIntosh, Marantz, Western Electric, and JBL equipment.

A double standard?

I am sure there are opportunists in Japan who like to get cool used stuff cheap from people who are afraid of the spirits.

They have no problems selling the valuable used stuff like the pianos to Americans.

Even if they don't believe in spirits, it is probably the original cultural root cause of them wanting to buy only new goods. You do it simply because everyone else does it.