For a country with a reputation of being a technology forerunner, Japan holds on dearly to all things tangible. Four of the world’s five biggest newspapers are Japanese. Faxes remain a staple of business communication. And the compact disc is alive and well.

While the rest of the world has abandoned CDs for digital downloads and music shops for the iTunes store, Japan remains a holdout. On Friday, Tower Records Japan’s CEO Ikuo Minewaki said the enduring popularity of CDs helps sustain the retail chain here–long after its U.S. parent company went bankrupt in 2006. The Japanese arm has 86 stores in Japan and Mr. Minewaki said more outlets are on the way.

Read the full story: The Wall Street Journal