Tenkaichi Keyboard Waiwai Kai Vol.6 (Tenkey) Report 1 (Company Booths)

We participated in the “Tenkaichi Keyboard Waiwai Kai Vol. 6” a.k.a. “Tenkey” on May 4, 2024 as media coverage.

This article will report on the day and the enthusiasm of the keyboard community.

This article is divided into two parts. Click here for the “Booths” section ▷▷▷.

Venue ~ Opening

This was the first time I personally participated in Tenkey.

The venue for this event was the DMM.com Group Seminar Room on the 24th floor of the Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower.

The overwhelming appearance of the building…

The venue is directly accessible from Roppongi 1-chome Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, so you do not have to go outside even once.

At the entrance of the building, a staff member with an admission ticket was ushering me in, and I also received a ticket to enter the building.

Even though the doors opened at 12:30 p.m., the 24th floor venue already had a long line.

After the doors open, each person prepares his or her own “gems” at a table of his or her choice.

Just after the appointed time, Tenkey opened with Yukari ( @eucalyn_), representative of moimate and organizer of Tenkey, as moderator.

The event was simultaneously streamed on Daihuku’s ( @Daihuku0015 ) YouTube channel, and the equipment brought by yuchi / Yuchi ( @F_YUUCHI ) was his personal property.

Sponsors

Organized by moimate Inc.

Here are some of the sponsors who helped make Tenkey Vol. 6 possible.

*Only those companies introduced at the beginning of the opening are listed.

Cannonkeys.

Cannonkeys is a select store for keyboard-related products based in the United States.

They are working to lower shipping costs to Japan and are expanding the number of eligible products as needed.

Also at the exhibit booth was ai03, a designer and engineer with Cannonkeys.

The most notable is still the Atelier /Atelier-X series, which began GB on April 29, 2024.

At the booth, prototypes and PCBs in an unpainted state were displayed, and many people were able to confirm the keystroke feel of the prototypes.

Also of note is the PHOTON, a 75% layout mechanical keyboard scheduled for release in late 2024.

The new model, which has a plastic injection-molded body with a gasket-mounted structure, is said to “incorporate all the know-how we have accumulated in designing high-end keyboards,” and will be offered at an “affordable price” with a key feel, typing sound, and looks that one would not expect from a plastic chassis.

In addition, the wireless model will be compliant with Japanese technical regulations, and “PHOTON” will be popular worldwide in the second half of 2024.

Topre Corporation

At the booth of Topre Corporation, which mainly offers the REALFORCE series, a collaboration model with Hatsune Miku, an aluminum palm rest, and replacement keycaps were on display.

A dedicated keypad was also available for users to experience the difference in pressing pressure, and we got the impression that many people were checking out the capacitive non-contact keystroke feel.

Diatech Corporation

Diatech Corporation, the “pioneer” of the Japanese mechanical keyboard community that was the first to launch a keyboard using the Cherry MX axis, exhibited many of its FILCO brand products.

One of the most notable products was a keyboard stand with an integrated metal palm rest.

The width is a typical 65%/75% keyboard size, which can be used for other products besides the company’s own.

I got the impression that this is a highly usable product that tilts to the perfect typing angle just by placing it on the table, and also serves as a wrist rest.

In addition, many people tried out the “Majestouch Xacro M10SP,” a left-right split keyboard that is very rare for a Japanese manufacturer.

Yusha Kobo

Yusha Kobo, a keyboard specialty store that handles many self-made keyboard parts, is an official vendor of Altair released by Cannonkeys, and GB announcements and GB information on the Topre axis compatible “URSA Custom Keycap” for use with the Realforce and HHKB GB announcement and GB guide of “URSA Custom Keycap” compatible with Topre axes for Realforce and HHKB.

The booth exhibits included the Corne V4 series (designed by foostan), which went on sale in March 2024 and has become popular as a “soldering-free self-made keyboard,” and the company’s Primer series.

Lofree

Lofree, an up-and-coming keyboard brand based in Shenzhen, introduced FLOW, a revolutionary evolution in the feel of low-profile mechanical keyboards, and Edge, currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter.

Edge was on display especially for this event, and many people were able to see how it feels to hit the keys.

PFU Corporation

Many of you have probably heard of the Happy Hacking Keyboard name at least once.

PFU Corporation has added the HHKB Studio, an all-in-one device with trackpoint and gesture pad equipped with Cherry MX compatible key switches, to its previously released lineup of “capacitive non-contact” keyboards, and it has become It became a very hot topic.

moimate Inc.

moimate Inc., represented by Tenkey organizer Yukari-san, focused on exhibits such as ” CREATERPAD,” which raised 19 million yen in support on Makuake, and ” RUSHBOX,” which raised 20 million yen in support on Campfire.

The RUSHBOX is a gaming controller of the genre known as a lever-less acetyle controller.

The “high-end model” with aluminum housing weighs 1.2 kg and boasts excellent stability, even when operated on the lap, thanks in part to the non-slip pad on the back.

In addition, all keys are hot-swappable and can be replaced with compatible key switches of your choice, and unused keys can be blocked with key switch blockers.

In addition, the button assignments can be changed as desired, allowing for customization in accordance with tournament regulations.

summary

This was the corporate booth section.

We hope this has given you an idea of what a very informative event this is.

Tenkey is not positioned as an event for so-called “enthusiasts,” but rather an event that can be casually attended by people with a broad interest in keyboards.

List of Keyboard Events

The general public is also kindly invited to learn from the “keyboard geeks” who bring their own keyboards to the event.

If this article has sparked even the slightest interest in keyboarding, why not join us next time?