From the 78rpm experts in Japan:
The last new issue 78s were released in Japan in 1958. 
After that, re-issue only pressings were made until 1962 when production 
finally ceased.
Mal

*******

Roger and Allison Kulp wrote:
> Hi,
>
> If you're reading this,could you give me some information on when the last pop music titles were pressed on 78 rpm in Japan ?
>
>                                               Thanks,
>
>                                                 Roger
>
> MATSUBAYASHI 'Shaolin' Kohji <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Hi, and happy new year all,
>
> I'm just curious - what can I distinguish shellac 78rpms from
> other thick vinyl-made 78rpms, not only by reading labels saying
> such as "Merco Plastic" or "Non-breakable"?
>
> The last era of vinyl 78rpms can be easily distinguished just
> because they are very thin and flexible. But other type of vinyl 78rpms,
> as well as very early LPs, are not flexible and rather thick.
> I've been wondering whether the last era of thick 78rpms (late 1950s
> to early 1960s, for example) are actually made either of shellac
> or thick vinyl.
>
>
> At Fri, 4 Jan 2008 19:15:51 -0500,
> Tom Fine wrote:
>   
>> What's the history of vinyl 78's? I have a small pile from I think the very early 50's, these are 
>> pop and country tunes. Was vinyl used for 78's in any mass quantities previous to when vinyl LPs 
>> were mass-manufactured? The "newest" vinyl 78's I know of are kiddie records pressed in the 
>> mid-60's. Aside from novelty stuff, was the medium used after the mid-60's?
>>
>> Thanks for the coming history lesson!
>>
>> -- Tom Fine
>>     
>
> --
>  MATSUBAYASHI, 'Shaolin' Kohji                  [log in to unmask]
>                                                  http://microgroove.jp/
>
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>
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