Growing up, portable cassette players were always called “freestyles” here. I never knew it was a marketing thing, or that some other countries also objected to the naming.

this is “original research”, which means i dicked around on the internet archive for half an hour. it may be wrong.

  • lime!@feddit.nuOPEnglish
    5·
    1 month ago

    it’s uh… wasei-eigo. it was meant to, quote,

    introduce the idea of “Japanese-ness” into global culture, synonymous with miniaturization and high-technology.[60] The “Walk-men” and “Walk-women” in advertisements were created to be the ideal reflections of the viewing audience.[61] Sony implemented a marketing strategy, hiring young adults to walk around in public wearing a Walkman.

    naturally, the marketing agencies in some countries didn’t really get it (see also: the Honda Pussy) and suggested different names