Event - slate75 Launch at 3PCS, Shinjuku
Kelvin TanWe launched slate75 in conjunction with Hori san’s 3PCS 9th anniversary at Shinjuku, Tokyo, on 2nd May 2025, right in the middle of Japan’s Golden Week.
Hori san is the owner of 3PCS, and every year his anniversary event pulls in a huge crowd. This year was no exception. The street outside the shop was packed, the atmosphere was lively, and the energy inside was intense from the moment the doors opened.
We met many old friends, familiar faces, and new customers throughout the day. It felt more like a reunion than a product launch. Everyone came to celebrate, to catch up, and to enjoy the community that has grown around 3PCS over the years.
This event also marked something very special for us. We were presenting our first mechanical keyboard that is fully manufactured in Malaysia. slate75 represents years of learning, mistakes, improvements, and refinement. To finally show it in such an environment, surrounded by friends and supporters, meant a lot.
But there is always a challenge when showing a keyboard. How do you demonstrate it properly without just letting people type random words?
The obvious answer was to turn it into a game.
We had previously tried Monkeytype with some of our Japanese friends before the launch day, but it did not work very well. Since English is not their first language, the experience felt awkward and broke the flow. A friend then recommended Sushida.
Sushida is a typing game where sushi passes by on a conveyor belt, and Japanese romaji words appear on screen. There are three difficulty levels, and the visual presentation is simple, playful, and immediately engaging. It turned out to be the perfect solution.
Anyone who participated received a sticker pack and a free drink ticket that has a magnet behind it that can break apart. Those who achieved high scores also won an additional deskmat. The competitive atmosphere quickly escalated. Friends started blocking each other’s eyes, blowing vapour across faces, and doing whatever they could to distract one another. It became loud, chaotic, and extremely entertaining. Watching people laugh, cheer, and try again was one of the best parts of the day.
This was also the moment we delivered our first batch of slate75 boards to adopters. After spending countless months working on CNC machining, surface finishing, assembly quality, and packaging, handing over the final product to real users was deeply emotional. We are incredibly thankful to everyone who supported us through all these years and believed in what we were building.
On a personal note, I was completely exhausted after finishing development. As the head of production, I was deeply involved in every stage of manufacturing, from CNC tolerances to anodising finishes and final assembly. Hori san noticed my fatigue and suggested I take a proper break. He invited me to Hokkaido for a week of rest.
The hospitality he showed me was extraordinary. It was not just a holiday, but a genuine act of friendship. That time away allowed me to fully recharge, both mentally and physically. I returned to the workshop refreshed, motivated, and ready to take on the next challenge.
Final thoughts
This event reminded me why we do what we do. It is not just about products, specifications, or engineering. It is about people, friendships, shared passion, and moments like these that stay with us long after the keyboards have shipped.
Thank you to Hori san, the entire 3PCS staff, our friends, and everyone who came to celebrate with us. slate75 is only the beginning.
KT