first Brimfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
If you ask me, it is true that I travel a lot.
Since I travel abroad several times a year and within Japan several times a month, people around me seem to have the image that I am always going somewhere.
When I tell people that I am going on a trip, I am often asked, "What are you going to do on this trip?
What for, huh?
. and I am always at a loss for words.
Sometimes there are destinations and tasks that suit my profession as a designer, but more often than not, it is difficult to explain.
After a pause of about two beats, he responds, "It's a lot of things, isn't it?" with a full air of feeling that he actually has some secret purpose or business or something.
The person who receives the answer usually retracts the contradiction, saying, "What is that...oh (guess)," but I am sure he or she is a little bothered.
It would be a long story if I were to tell the answer in words, so I could just say, let's go out for a drink, but the other person probably doesn't have time for that.
So, the purpose of this column is to write down what I am really going on a trip and what I am doing here, so that I can quickly give a QR code or something to the person I am talking to.
And the most important characters in this column are, as designers do, fashion, clothing, and the tools we wear.
Since we are talking about travel, I will always refer to them here as "buddies" out of love.
On July 9 , in the middle of summer, I was heading north from New York City in a rented car.
The car is a large Chevrolet. This time, we chose the largest car we could find, as it would accommodate my two companions and their luggage.
Bigger cars are safer in the event of a collision, and above all, they are more American. . I place importance on such "moods" when I travel.
The destination is Brimfield, Massachusetts.
The town hosts one of the largest antique fairs in the U.S. three times a year , and I go every year.
. Left-hand drive, as a matter of course. In the U.S., "Chevrolet" is the standard of the standard.
With Manhattan in the distance in the background, a group of white boats can be seen anchored in the shimmering Manhasset Bay on the right.
." and so on, is always the opening chapter of a drive.
Lobster is the specialty of the seaside area around here, so it is customary to stop by my favorite restaurant first for a lobster roll.
I don't think lobster rolls are very popular in Japan.
Here, I bought a T-shirt and a cap as souvenirs.
American restaurants often make and sell T-shirts and other merchandise , which is so tacky and cute.
Dorky is cute , that's what it is.
At a break in our three-hour drive, we would randomly enter a thrift store (recycle store) that we had found through a map search and "play Mr. Chestnut", but none of us had god hands, and once again, we respected God.
The war results are available at ......
[Hilditch & Key] shirt ($9.99)
[Turnbull & Asser] shirt ($9.99)
70's Wrangler jeans ($19.99).
Several mysterious Indian dolls ($5 each)
どれも状態はそれほど良くない…トホホである。
What is beyond the gaze of the indiandor?
For the record, Mr. Ozaki is the one on the left .
My partner that morning, still off the plane, was wearing an Acronium top and Nike running pants.
Both are stretchy and suitable for in-flight or long drives, while I like the simple design that can also be worn as street clothes.
As we continue our leisurely drive, making cackling stops, the scenery changes from docks to forests and meadows.
Massachusetts is a state that is dotted with tranquil green-water ponds in the misty air , as you pass through Connecticut.
In the evening we reached our lodgings for the night.
Tomorrow morning, since I had to get up early, I did not throw a pillow, only drank one (mega) beer and went to bed.
. it must be the size of two faces, to put it mildly.
Even the most ordinary scenery has a charm not found in Japan.
Early the next morning, with plenty of my favorite, uniquely American coffee, neither good nor bad, I drove to Brimfield, a neighboring town 15 minutes from the inn.
East Coast in summer , what a pleasant morning.
There is a beautiful church at the entrance to the town of Brimfield , and you can park in its front yard.
. there are plenty of cheaper parking lots nearby, but again, mood is important.
A big event that attracts men and women of all ages . There are not many Japanese people there.
This huge antique fair has a truly diverse array of objects.
Of course, there are things with a price on them, and someone buys them, but that means that the price has been accepted as equivalent to the value of the thing,
Things that cannot be sold forever will have their prices lowered as they are of low value, and those that still cannot be picked up will probably be discarded by the seller at some point as worthless.
Coca-Cola wooden boxes , why do they look so good by themselves?
The mixture of cobblestones is the same at all antique fairs.
Just looking at the different signs is fun. The depth of the font .
As a matter of market principle, it is obvious, but this primitive market is serious about value, not difficult, and easy to understand.
. Have you ever thought so genuinely about "value" when doing business in Japan?
When did I start coming to this place to learn "something like the meaning and reason of value" .
I ❤️ BRIM" , , might surprise you.
An object that looks like trash to someone else is a treasure to someone else. However, it is difficult to attach value to a niche object.
So what about niche objects that are not trashy?
The answer is: "Things that are overpriced among some enthusiasts. On the contrary, it is highly valued.
View and learn again the source of exchange, where value is generated by scarcity.
This lesson should be common to all markets, but I can also see how the lack of a market for pure value is also a characteristic of modern society.
One only has to look at objects from the past to understand that in the past, people competed with each other to make things better and of higher value.
Some things look better because they are in large quantities.
There are also Western-style booths.
Good taste from the display.
For those who love sundries , this is a drool-worthy view.
But, that's all right, I genuinely like things after all.
Things that have never been seen before, cool things, cute things, funny things, things that may have supported someone's life....
. all of them are really fascinating and valuable to me.
Bargaining over prices is one of the best parts of such markets.
And so the bombing spree at the Brimfield Antiques Fair continues this year.
According to Ozaki, "This is our oasis, a hamburger specially made by a lady at a lemonade shop.
I think it's the best in America," he said.
Our rule is to wear what we buy as much as we can, and to make it look hade fancy.
Right hand: 40s~50s Navajo bracelet with turquoise , 30s~60s Navajo and Zuni rings on fingers
Left hand: 30's-40's Navajo silver bracelet and ring, Rolex semi-bubbleback
New partners this time. Of course, market price = purchase price, so cheap cheap cheap.
The trunk of a large car is crammed. The trunk of a large car is crammed.
After three days of walking and buying, the car on the way home was packed with luggage. . so much so that even the height of the Chevy was lowered.
After all, it's not even clear how much money I spent. But this is fine.
Me, I learn about "value" at antique fairs.
It is my mission to pass on the values I have learned to my clients in Japan, and this is my "what's in it for me" for this trip.
So anyway, we will be back here again next year.
. as long as the thing and its value .
Mr. Ozaki is happy to have his favorite shaker box.
The journey continues.
PROFILE
. Born in 1980. After working as a store buyer, he launched "Filmerange" and became independent as "Sankakke" in 2012. He spends his days working and traveling while pursuing good Japanese products.
