October 14 was no ordinary day for PC users: Windows 10 officially said “this is it.” Microsoft stopped offering security support for those who do not join its extended program (and yes, there is a free option for one year if you have a Microsoft account). For many, that meant the inevitable: changing equipment, embracing Windows 11 and looking to the future.
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But in Japan, always willing to do things their own way, the end of Windows 10 did not just mark a technological transition. It was also the triumphant return of an old acquaintance: the Blu-ray disc player.
What does an operating system have to do with disks?
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Much more than it seems. It turns out that Japan, unlike most Western countries, never completely abandoned the physical format. In the land of the rising sun, records remain synonymous with collectability, value and durability.
It’s not for nothing that they stopped using official floppy disks… in 2024! For them, having something tangible is still important, and with support for Windows 10 disappearing, many users are preparing their computers for preserve your physical library as if it were a digital treasure.
The result? Sales of Blu-ray readers skyrocket in Japanese stores.
Laptops without a slot, towers without bays… and Japan asking for retro
While in the West years ago disk readers disappeared from laptops and became a rarity on desktop PCs, In Japan this is a real problem.
Today, PC cases are optimized for airflow, LEDs, and tempered glass panels… but they completely forgot about expansion bays. The legendary 5 ¼ bays, which in the 90s were home to CDs and DVDs, are conspicuous by their absence today.
This has forced many Japanese to opt for external Blu-ray readerswhich connect via USB. The problem? They are slower, less durable and are not intended for intensive use.
SilverStone and the return of retro hardware
In the midst of this resurgence of the album, SilverStone was ahead of the game. The manufacturer launched a retro-designed PC case a few months ago that includes… yes, 5 ¼ bays.
Maybe for some it is a curiosity, but for Japanese users, it is just what they were waiting for. And it would not be unusual for other manufacturers to follow suit if this trend continues.
Blu-rays, nostalgia and collecting
This phenomenon is not just nostalgia: in Japan, collecting is part of technological culture. Having the disc, the box, the manual… all of that has value. While in other parts of the world streaming and the cloud dominate, for many Japanese, there is nothing like having the content in their hands.
Therefore, the farewell to Windows 10 was not simply a technical note. It was a perfect excuse to reconnect with technology which, although considered obsolete elsewhere, in Japan still has a lifespan.
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Conclusion: Japan goes at its own pace (and with records in hand)
While everyone runs towards the cloud, Japan walks towards the past with conviction and pride. In their world, Blu-ray players are not relics, but current tools. And the end of Windows 10 support only served as a reminder that out there, what’s old never dies… it’s just reinvented.
