Participated in Keyket 2025
I participated in Keyboard Market Tokyo (Keyket) 2025, held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, and distributed my custom keyboard, Kutsuki, for the first time. This article provides an overview of the event atmosphere, the efforts leading up to it, and future prospects.
Details about the product's design and development history will be shared in a separate article later.
The Event Day
Setting Up
Despite organizing my supplies days in advance, I struggled with the unexpected bulkiness and weight of over 10 kg of items. Packing everything into a suitcase made it necessary to bear some on my shoulders, which was exhausting. Nonetheless, I managed to arrive at the venue and start setting up.
A photo of the booth taken just before the event started—this was the only image captured during the event.
Opening
The period immediately after early admission was calm, but as time went by, more people visited the booth, and a line quickly formed during general admission. Many visitors had come specifically to purchase the keyboard, while others had read the technical book I distributed at a past event, which was deeply encouraging.
However, our booth handling was inefficient, causing delays in handing over the products. I apologize for the inconvenience. Several factors contributed to this, as this was the first event, but things should go more smoothly next time. Fortunately, all the products listed in the catalog were sold out, but I regretfully had no time to share updates on social media during the event.
Even as the event progressed, passersby showed interest, and the stream of visitors did not stop for the entire five-hour period. While standing throughout the event did take its toll on my knees[1], the time flew by.
Media Coverage
The event received coverage through articles and videos, which was a pleasant surprise. ITmedia shared a short video on the same day, followed by an article and longer video coverage.
- https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2503/31/news091.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSl-ZweZh9A
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eQYizSZ1zfc
- https://x.com/itmedia_news/status/1903420159253196946
Other stylish video introductions were provided by Tobalog and Monograph:
If there are additional articles or videos about the event, I would appreciate it if you could inform me.
Challenges and Reflections
As this was my first venture into hardware sales, several issues arose. These will be addressed in future events:
- Disorganized supplies: Items were scattered across boxes, which caused delays during setup and product handovers. Labeling and organizing items will be essential.
- Complex catalog structure: Mixing colors and types made immediate recognition difficult, even for me. Uniformity is the goal for next time.
- Payment issues: Credit card payments sometimes failed, possibly due to unfamiliarity with Square or interference from card issuers. Thankfully, cash was available, but stabilizing payments is necessary.
- Stock updates forgotten: Despite having inventory checklists, I failed to update the stock accurately. On-the-spot checks are essential.
- Complex product explanation: Products were difficult to explain, requiring my constant presence at the booth. Preparation for such situations is needed.
- Rolling posters: The poster curled due to insufficient support. Custom-made rods may solve this problem.
- Unstable tethering: My phone tethering failed, though an assistant's phone saved the day. Offline demos may suffice for the next time.
- Time-consuming setup/takedown: Lack of organization led to rushed setup and missed opportunities for social media updates. Preparation must be prioritized.
Preparations and Efforts
The Initial Application
Applications opened six months before the event, but I only had a prototype ready at that time. The schedule was tight, involving redesigning modules, creating a trackball, and handling production. Reflecting on it now, the timeline was a true crunch.
Website Creation
Feedback from visitors indicated that the product appeared as a mass of cables without explanations but gained intrigue when described. Conveying the appeal through effective design was critical. A professional web designer was fortunately available and delivered a clear, appealing website in under a month.
Photography
Lacking photography expertise, I relied on a friend who loved photography. With their help and some makeshift setups, we produced high-quality product images.
Result of trial-and-error photography
Promo Videos and Printed Material
I commissioned a looping promotional video for the iPad displayed at the venue. Additionally, pamphlets replaced business cards for better information dissemination. Posters were tested in a large B1 size but may be downsized for the next event.
Examples of materials:
Post-Event Reflections
After the event, I listed 42 potential improvements. Immediate priorities include producing the second batch of the product, updating the firmware, and designing new modules.
Conclusion
Keyket 2025, my first participation, was an exciting and fruitful experience. Gratitude goes to all visitors, buyers, and organizers. It was a demanding journey, but it culminated successfully. The lessons learned will guide my future pursuits in keyboard development. Stay tuned for further updates and innovations!
It reminded me of training from Beatmania IIDX. ↩︎
