Reading Time: about 8 minutes
This article is for people who…
- Feel bored with their usual pool routine
- Want to swim with a “Walkman vibe” underwater
- Are curious about bone-conduction earphones or waterproof gadgets
- Crave an easy way to escape into a non-ordinary, almost fantasy-like space
■Prologue
“Swimming laps is boring.” “I can’t keep up my pool routine.”
If you’ve ever thought like this, especially in your 50s, here’s a slightly ridiculous—but real—story for you.
This is the tale of a daydreamer uncle who turned his wild imagination into reality.
The Underwater Instrumentality Project Begins
I recently made a rule for myself: swim at least 30 minutes every day.
It’s my way of keeping my lazy self in check—a kind of ritual.
But let’s be honest: swimming back and forth in the pool every day gets monotonous, even soul-crushing.
That’s when the thought hit me:
“What if I could listen to music underwater…?”
This was the spark for my so-called “Underwater Instrumentality Project” (aka Underwater Walkman Plan).
It all traced back to my 20s, when I tried scuba diving. The sensation was unforgettable:
“It feels like being in space.”
I thought: what if I could overlay that floating-in-space sensation with my favorite music?
Enter Technology (and My Struggles)
Back in my youth, that idea was pure fantasy. But now, thanks to bone-conduction earphones, it’s a reality.
When I discovered this, I trembled—not humanity as a whole, but me, a 50-something uncle, trembling with excitement.
Then came the real challenge:
How do I get YouTube music into these devices?
Download? Convert? Install? Already sounds exhausting.
Typical Gen-X frustration: sitting in front of my computer, muttering “Forget it…” after every failed attempt.
A Savior Appears
My savior wasn’t a teenager, but a same-age colleague—a reliable guy who loves digital gadgets.
He introduced me to two apps: TubeMate and Video MP3 Converter.
Step by step, I followed his instructions. Clumsy fingers, endless sighs, but eventually… success.
Music finally played through my phone’s music folder, and I whispered:
“Ohhh… it works.”
That tiny success felt like holding a ticket to a new world—my underwater adventure had officially begun.
Choosing the Gear: High-End vs. Budget
My dream choice? The sleek Shokz model at ¥25,000 (~$180).
But reality (and my wallet) whispered:
“What if you hate swimming with music?”
So I took the cheaper path: a Tayogo model for around ¥4,000 (~$30).
Even if it failed, it would at least make for a funny story.
Besides, this was my first-ever “swimming × music” experiment at 50.
Another item added to my bucket list.
Diving into “Space”
Finally, the big day. I strapped on the bone-conduction earphones, sealed my ears with plugs, and slipped underwater.
Instantly, the pool transformed into outer space.
Water resistance wrapped around me, the floating sensation amplified.
Then came the music—Hawaiian melodies, deep-sea sounds—resonating directly through my bones.
I felt like I was inside an EVA cockpit, perfectly synchronized.
My synchronization rate hit 400%.
For the first time, swimming laps felt less like torture and more like a cosmic journey.
Like Amuro hearing Lalah’s voice in Gundam, I felt guided by unseen melodies.
Maybe I had awakened as a Newtype?
It was surreal, almost mystical.
Pros & Cons After Trying
👍 What was great
- Unbelievable cost-performance: Only ¥4,000 (~$30) for such a surreal, immersive experience.
- Stress relief: Music distracted me from the physical pain of swimming, making it genuinely fun.
- Immersion boost: With earplugs, outside noise vanished—only the music remained.
⚠️ What could be better
- Weak bass: Bone conduction isn’t great with low frequencies.
- Hard to operate underwater: Better to set playlists in advance.
- Durability unknown: Budget model—how long it lasts is anyone’s guess.
Conclusion: Totally Worth It for a Trial
If your pool sessions feel monotonous, this is worth trying.
For just ¥4,000, you can break free from routine and experience swimming as a completely new dimension.
My experiment proved: music underwater is far more amazing than I imagined.
Next step? Maybe the high-end Shokz model… unless my wallet (or my wife) stops me before I “go berserk.”
And if this article disappears one day, you’ll know I lost control.
👉 Check out Tayogo on Amazon
👉 Find Tayogo on Rakuten
👉 Someday, I’ll review the premium Shokz too! 👉 Find “Shokz” on Amazon
👉 Find “Shokz” on Rakuten
✨ From ordinary pool laps to an extraordinary “outer space” journey—sometimes, even at 50, you can still discover new ways to play.
📌 Related Articles You Might Enjoy
👉 “My Back Hurt, So I Couldn’t Run Anymore. But I Could Still Swim — A Gentle Restart in My 50s”
Even if you can’t run, you can still move forward by swimming. A quiet story of restarting life in your 50s.
➡ Read the article👉 “Only Three Pitches Left — And I Still Throw”
A story about challenge and resilience, starting from the thought, “What if I don’t have many chances left?”
➡ Read the article👉 “A 50-Year-Old Man, Becoming the Pillar of Sake Breathing ─ Showdown in My Wife’s Infinity Castle”
A humorous yet dramatic tale of a man’s struggle inside the “Infinity Castle” called marriage.
➡ Read the article
コメント