The vintage furniture photographs he has taken for his records give him a taste of the American atmosphere.

Acme Furniture is known as one of the pioneers in Japan in turning its attention to vintage American furniture.

TanakaAt the time of establishment, the former owner, Mr. Yasuda, went to U.S. military bases in Japan to buy and sell discharged items he found there. Some of the furniture was used in so-called "U.S. military houses," and that is how we started dealing in furniture, and a few years later, we started going to the U.S. to buy furniture.

I see, so the furniture you found at the U.S. Army house is one of the roots of Acme Furniture. It is true that the current "Acme Furniture" has the same smell.

TanakaOur specialty is a linear, modern design that follows traditional American details with a wood base. These are things that have been used realistically in middle-class American homes. They are so-called "factory brands" manufactured by long-established furniture makers.

What kind of furniture manufacturer would you say you are?

TanakaThe most popular brands are LANE, DREXEL HERITAGE, and CONANT BALL. Paul McCobb (PAUL McCOBB)" is also very popular. My personal favorite is Brown Saltman, a legendary California manufacturer. There are only a few of them, but they use famous designers such as John Keel, and their quality is very high. All of the makers were familiar in the U.S. at that time. You can see them in this book.

What are your criteria for buying vintage furniture?

Tanaka: Basically, they are American, born in the mid-century of the 1950s and 1960s. Many people may think of designers such as Eames and George Nelson when they hear the term "mid-century," but the factory brands mentioned above are definitely from this era as well, when the designs and quality were at their best.

I have the impression that this type of vintage furniture came to Japan and took root as a standard, and then developed into mid-century modern furniture such as Herman Miller in the 1990s, followed by industrial furniture and Scandinavian furniture in the 2000s. Why is this era better? Why is this period better?

TanakaThe United States was in the midst of an unprecedented economic boom following its victory in World War II. Not only furniture, but also cars and other products, the U.S. was certainly the leader in product design.

America certainly shined in the 1950s and 1960s, didn't it?

TanakaThe actual designs made in the 1950s and 1960s are very time-consuming and interesting. The quality of the wood used is good, and the construction is sturdy due to the lavish use of materials. Another interesting aspect of furniture from this period is the use of rare, high-quality woods such as Brazilian rosewood, which is now restricted by treaty. After the Vietnam War, the economy became worse, and the quality of furniture design and materials declined due to the need for production efficiency.

There is a common saying that "old American things are good," and there is a reason for that, isn't there?

TanakaFor example, if you actually compare what was made back then with what is made today, even the thickness of the veneer is completely different. The thicker the old one was, the more times we can restore it to its scratch-free state by scraping the surface. We are proud of the fact that we have a permanent repair workshop, and in our hands, the furniture can be transformed into furniture that is as good as new, or even better, with added value. If a piece was made in the golden age, it has the potential to last for generations to come, as long as it is well maintained.

I think the production of this book must have been a good opportunity for you to look back on those days. Is there anything that has changed compared to the past and the present?

TanakaThe photos on this site were taken for a database of items that we purchased. So I have listed the price and purchase price of each item at the time, but the prices are completely different compared to today. Also, things that are rare or unusual today were still available back then. Looking back again, I realize that good vintage furniture is decreasing year by year.

I think the photos remind you of the past.

TanakaI think that's right. I was shocked when I was allowed to go to the U.S. for the first time. I had no idea what buying was all about. I had imagined that I would have an elegant breakfast at a hotel and then carefully examine the products, but the reality was completely different.

What was the actual situation?

TanakaIt was hard work anyway. Because we had to load a lot of furniture, we rented a truck so big that it would be impossible to drive in Japan, drove it for a long time, and when it was full, returned to the warehouse to unload it, and repeated the process over and over. Of course, we had to sleep in cheap motels. Also, as a tradition, "Acme" has taught us not to use a car navigation system, but to use a road map to get the geography of the country into our heads! I didn't have the luxury of enjoying the U.S.A. at all.

What exactly do you go around?

Tanaka: I go to every single thrift store, flea market, and antique mall throughout the United States. It's interesting because the types of vintage furniture that actually show up on the West Coast, Central, and East Coast are completely different.

That is interesting. What are the actual differences?

TanakaAcme Furniture" purchases mainly from the West Coast, where we often find American Danish-style factory-brand items from the 1950s and 1960s. On the other hand, on the East Coast, you can find older items from the 1930s and 1940s and industrial items, and in the Central region, there is a lot of country-style furniture.

Lastly, what are your thoughts on the actual production of the book?

Tanaka: I spent more than half a year in the production period. I took the time to look at the pictures I had purchased so far, and there were various items that I did not know or had not seen before, and I was reminded once again of the depth of vintage furniture. Also, many of them became the image source for the furniture that we actually make originally for "Acme Furniture," and I think that if people can understand this, they will appreciate the interest in furniture even more. The book also includes rare photographs of the places where we purchased the furniture at the time, so I believe that through the book you will be able to get a sense of the real original American landscape. We would like to keep up the tradition inherited from our senior buyers, and at the same time, we would like to make new proposals like this book, so please look forward to it!

An archive book that documents 35 years of Acme Furniture in one volume.

This archive book commemorates the 35th anniversary of Acme Furniture, which was founded in 1983. The book introduces approximately 500 photographs carefully selected from the vast number of photos taken by successive buyers for their records during their purchases in the United States. In addition to its high documentary value, the book is designed to allow readers to feel the atmosphere of the United States through the photographs. Three types of covers are available. Limited edition of 1,000 copies.