Yoshii Hiroyuki

Listen to the new sound of music

Yoshii Hiroyuki, an inventor, never forgets his birthday. He was born in Nara in 1936, on the same day 1,400 troops surrounded the Diet building in an unsuccessful coup d'etat that became known as the 'February 26th incident',
a date imprinted in Japanese history.
Hiroyuki has developed a revolutionary speaker sound system, the Yoshii 9, using his own theory called, Time-domain theory. This tube-type system weighing only 12kg and measuring 9cm in diameter (hence the name, Yoshii 9) was designed to be different from conventional audio system. Instead of frequency being evaluated in frequency domain (F-domain), Hiroyuki's audio system is based on what he calls, "faithful sound-pressure wave reproduction," known as Time-domain audio.

All his inventions have won him numerous prizes in Japan and great accolade in many foreign countries. When being awarded the prestigious French 'Joseph Leon Trophy', in Paris, the Yoshii 9 was described as 'a remarkable piece of technology in the audio field'.
Invention is said to be '99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. So, what drives a person to systematically and dogmatically perform series of tests and experiments, day in and day out, sometimes year in and year out, to create a concrete reality from an abstract idea.

"Illness changed the course of my life," he says, "I was an ordinary salaryman working for a communications company when I became seriously ill. I was bedridden for many months in hospital. My only solace was to listen to music. Everyday I repeatedly listened to two pieces of music. Jazz music by Kenny Dorham and sonatas by Vivaldi. Music is precious for the soul, I thought."

Having come to this conclusion, he was moved and inspired to create a sound system that would faithfully reproduce sound of high quality. He went to work for Onkyo Corporation where the first product based on Time-domain theory was produced in 1983 called, the GS-1. Even though Hiroyuki was studying zen, tea ceremony and flower arrangement to strengthen his mental and spiritual well being, again illness struck, again he had a long stay in hospital.

After he recovered he continued with his research, working gruelingly long hours everyday, all year round. Today, as President of audio research of Time-domain Corporation, he has designed the unique Yoshii 9. His inventions are regularly exhibited in European capital cities, Asia and America where the Yoshii 9 is always welcomed with great admiration.

Currently he is working on a head-phone system using Time-domain theory. There is no doubt that music from these speakers is so clear, so pure, the sound of normal everyday music turns into an unadulterated aural sensation. One gets the feeling that the music emanates from the whole room, it is difficult to believe the music is actually coming from these lean speakers that would not seem out of place within the precinct of an ancient temple or a modern 21st century home.

The John Lennon Museum in Saitama Prefecture and The Astrology Observatory in Mie Prefecture are all wired up to the Time-domain sound system.

Text: Mylene Oishi • Photos: 'Yoshii9'