Your Doorway to Japan

Welcome to the New Nippon.com

Tracing the Roots of Casio at the Toshio Kashio Memorial Museum of Invention

  • Masuda Yūichi, right, shakes hands with Kashio Kazuhiro the eldest son of founding brother Kashio Kazuo, at a press conference on February 27, 2023. (© Casio)

    Masuda Yūichi, right, shakes hands with Kashio Kazuhiro the eldest son of founding brother Kashio Kazuo, at a press conference on February 27, 2023. (© Casio)

  • The Toshio Kashio Memorial Museum of Invention in Seijō, Setagaya. The building and its furnishings have an avian motif that reflects Toshio’s love of birds.

    The Toshio Kashio Memorial Museum of Invention in Seijō, Setagaya. The building and its furnishings have an avian motif that reflects Toshio’s love of birds.

  • A picture in the Casiotron exhibit shows Toshio in his later years.

    A picture in the Casiotron exhibit shows Toshio in his later years.

  • The 14-A (center) and programable scientific calculator AL-1 (back left) on display at the Toshio Kashio Memorial Museum of Invention.

    The 14-A (center) and programable scientific calculator AL-1 (back left) on display at the Toshio Kashio Memorial Museum of Invention.

  • The 14-A’s modern numeric keypad.

    The 14-A’s modern numeric keypad.

  • Rival of the 14-A, Sharp’s 1964 Compet electronic desktop calculator featured a full keypad with columns of 10 keys. (© Jiji/Sharp)

    Rival of the 14-A, Sharp’s 1964 Compet electronic desktop calculator featured a full keypad with columns of 10 keys. (© Jiji/Sharp)

  • The Kashio Seisakujo pipe ring. Toshio was an inventor who focused on the daily lives of common people.

    The Kashio Seisakujo pipe ring. Toshio was an inventor who focused on the daily lives of common people.

  • Casio’s AL-1, the original scientific and technical calculator, became a long-selling hit.

    Casio’s AL-1, the original scientific and technical calculator, became a long-selling hit.

  • The four Kashio brothers around the time of Casio’s founding. From Left: Toshio, Kazuo, Tadao, and Yukio. (© Casio Computers)

    The four Kashio brothers around the time of Casio’s founding. From Left: Toshio, Kazuo, Tadao, and Yukio. (© Casio Computers)

  • The hand-drawn circuit schematic for the 14-A. Toshio’s main job was to put ideas into drawings, and his brothers handled the rest.

    The hand-drawn circuit schematic for the 14-A. Toshio’s main job was to put ideas into drawings, and his brothers handled the rest.

  • The first Casio electronic calculator, the 001.

    The first Casio electronic calculator, the 001.

  • The Casio Mini took Japan by storm.

    The Casio Mini took Japan by storm.

  • Hit products kept coming, like the Casio Minicard (right) and the credit-card sized SL-800 calculator.

    Hit products kept coming, like the Casio Minicard (right) and the credit-card sized SL-800 calculator.

  • The two watches on the right are Casiotrons, while on the left is the X-1 from 1976, the first to be equipped with functions like a world clock and stopwatch.

    The two watches on the right are Casiotrons, while on the left is the X-1 from 1976, the first to be equipped with functions like a world clock and stopwatch.

  • The G-Shock section at the museum displays a valuable first-generation model alongside other popular types.

    The G-Shock section at the museum displays a valuable first-generation model alongside other popular types.

  • The Casiotone 201, with 49 keys and internal speakers, drew fans for its compact size and simplicity.

    The Casiotone 201, with 49 keys and internal speakers, drew fans for its compact size and simplicity.

  • In a testament to Toshio’s attention to detail in music, he had the wall behind this audio set lined with marble for better acoustics.

    In a testament to Toshio’s attention to detail in music, he had the wall behind this audio set lined with marble for better acoustics.

  • Toshio’s many sayings are displayed in a corridor alongside pictures of the inventor.

    Toshio’s many sayings are displayed in a corridor alongside pictures of the inventor.

  • Toshio’s hand drawn electronic music instrument schematics. He continued to invent new devices into his later years, drawing his plans with only paper, pen, and ruler.

    Toshio’s hand drawn electronic music instrument schematics. He continued to invent new devices into his later years, drawing his plans with only paper, pen, and ruler.

  • A display of winning entries in the annual Kashio Toshio Invention Idea Contest for elementary school students.

    A display of winning entries in the annual Kashio Toshio Invention Idea Contest for elementary school students.

  • A portion of the museum’s garden is open to the public.

    A portion of the museum’s garden is open to the public.

19 / 21

Click to View Article