Buy, buy, and buy. What is the Brimfield Antique Show, the largest flea market in the U.S., that the three kimono lovers saw?

tailThe Rose Bowl in Los Angeles is famous, isn't it? . That is a very West Coast flea market. But "Brim" is a flea market held on the East Coast, in Massachusetts, where Boston is located.

tailYes, I do. There are many buyers of vintage clothing stores in the Rose Bowl, but some Japanese vintage clothing stores know about "Brim" and some don't. . There are not many clothes there. So when I first tried to go to Brim, I was told by people around me that it was not a good idea.... But I went there with a light-hearted attitude, thinking that it would be OK because I am not a vintage clothing shop, and I found that the space was unimaginably large.

tailIt's about twice as big as the Rose Bowl.

tailIt may not sound like it, but it's like "East Coast" (laughs). I guess you could call it "country. It has a quilt and Gobelins feel, and the wood is painted white. The West Coast was once a territory of Mexico, so it has a rather colorful worldview, with cacti and Indian rugs. Of course, there is a crossover of various cultures.

tailI've been coming here several times over the past 3 years, but this is your second time, right?

flatlandYes, it is. I went for the first time last year. At that time, I also stopped by New York to stock up for the store, but this time, I focused on this one thing.

flatlandI was forced into it (laughs). (Laughs.) But as a result, I was able to purchase the goods.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)This was the second time for me too.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)I had been to flea markets in Europe before, but compared to those, this was by far the largest. I was surprised by the scale. The place is so big that you can put furniture and so on without any problem. I could put up store signs, pillars, and so on.

flatlandI have been to flea markets in Paris and flea markets in Brooklyn, but the scale of the event was far beyond them. And there was everything, so one day was not enough at all.

tailI only get to see about a third of it in a day.

flatlandAlso, I was surprised at how many are from outside the U.S. . Especially Africa . There are many things that are hard to find in Japan.

tailNo, they are almost never there . . I think I saw only about 5 people this time. In contrast, about 20% of the visitors to the Rose Bowl are Japanese, which is totally different. . There are a lot of people at the Brim, but I would say that the Japanese are about 0.11 TP10T of the visitors.

tailThey are lined up in rows on both sides of the national highway, on what used to be farms. Usually, it is just a vacant lot, but only then do tents stand there.

tailAlso, there is a lot of jewelry, from what I would call precious metals to cheap-looking things. African beads, for example.

flatlandThis time I was planning to do an event with what I bought at "Brim". When I went there last time, I heard from Mr. Ozaki that "African jewelry is good" , so I bought some. Some of the customers were very happy. So this time, I decided to hold an event not only with jewelry, but also with African fabrics and baskets.

tailAfrica is very popular among us these days .

flatland. since last year or so. Africa has become just right for the times.

tail. come to think of it, they also sell Touareg ornaments and such.

tailYes . They are nomads in the Sahara Desert.

flatlandThe last time I went to "Brim" I bought a lot of Tuareg stuff because it was quite reasonably priced, but this time there was no Tuareg jewelry at all....

tailIn the end, I guess it's the Touareg. Their products are really good. And they were selling African bead accessories at the Touareg booth, so I guess that's how the word spread.

flatlandTatsumasa, you also bought a lot of African jewelry, didn't you?

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)It was a new experience for me. I had never seen anything like it in Japan.

flatlandHowever, even though it is called a Touareg, there are a lot of non-silver ornaments, and last time Tadamasa bought a lot of them. I thought it was so cool that I was determined to buy it this time....

tailBy the way, there are about 8 booths in Africa, and they all have different prices and characteristics. If I were to look at all of them, it would take me quite a bit of time.

flatlandMr. Ozaki and Tatsumasa's buying habits are extraordinary, so that's why it takes so much time (laughs). (Laughs) . I don't think it takes that much time for a normal viewer.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Indeed (laughs).

tailAlso, the food at Brim is delicious. They have a kind of hamburger called "Okan no hamburger" (laughs). (Laughs.) It's a hamburger about the size of a Japanese rice ball, made by an ordinary lady. They are made by an ordinary lady.

tailThere are a lot of normal people.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)There weren't many fashionable people, were there?

flatland. someone like "The American Family".

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Yes, yes. It's like an American version of the clientele at the Setagaya antique market.

tailEuropeans are the same way, but Americans also like antiques. Even ordinary people think antiques have value and romance. I guess they have an ingrained sense of taking good care of things. Japanese people tend to go to mass merchandisers for the time being.

tailYes, I agree. . because of these cultural differences, I think everyone has more than a little interest in antiques.

flatland. I got the impression that they were just buying the things they needed for their daily lives, rather than looking for something they were crazy about.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)You can do it. You basically negotiate every time.

tailBargaining is fun. Some people will bargain without saying a word. Sometimes I buy so much that I end up with a mess, and the price ends up being very low (laughs).

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)It's best to buy in bulk and say, "How much! is the best way. Sometimes the price is less than half of the original price (laughs).

tailI always buy things like "What is a blimp?" I always buy something like "What is a Blimp?" , but first of all, I want to buy a fabric-related item, a quilt made in the 19th century. Old fabrics are really cool.

tailThe rest are from Chimayo , or braid rugs that are made by ripping and weaving cloth in Maine or other traditional crafts. These are from the 40s and 50s.

tailOf course there are many women who like it, but if you look closely, you will see that there are some aspects that men love.

tail. this is a shaker box. I've been collecting a lot of them, but I'm finally thinking of selling them. I'm going to have an event next time (see the bottom of the page), so everyone is welcome to come.

tailI collected them from various places. . thus to make a tower (laughs).

tailWheat, rice, etc. . . used to be used for stockpiling food.

tailNext up are Native American and African beaded accessories. I think they would be great to wear with a shirt or something. There is a lot of fighting over these items at the show (laughs).

flatlandI buy them as soon as I find them! Like that (laughs).

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Ahhhh, they've been bought," he said.

tailI prefer to buy the more varied ones, and two of my friends buy the straight ones.

tailI collect miniature cars made by Tootsie Toy, a Chicago-based miniature car manufacturer, and I collect their pre-1940s models. I love the somewhat abstract feel of their minicars. What I have brought with me is just a small portion of my collection, and I actually have about eight times this amount (laughs).

tailNext is bears. I collect only bears (laughs). I also collect horses, but this time it's bears.

tailI also bought a lot of printed materials. I also bought postcards to send to people. I also use them as DMs for my brand. The postcards were sold in an album, and I bought them as if to say, "Please give me all of them.

tailHere is a category of ruins that I have recently started collecting. I know not many people would want to see them, but I simply started thinking, "I like ruins! As you can see, the fish are fossils. Fossils become fossils only after more than 1,000 years have passed, and I even feel a little scared of them (laughs).

tailThere are so many collectibles out there that I just don't know about. When I go to Brim many times, I notice that there are similar items in other stores. From there, I begin to compare them and realize that they are expensive because they are old. That's one of the aspects of learning. The same is true of miniature cars and postcards. I think they are worth collecting. Of course, there are many things that I buy for their intuitive cuteness.

tailHow did you know that (laughs)? Some of them are still in the bag. But, as I said before, I'm planning to exhibit the shaker boxes and miniature cars at my studio, so I'll be sure to do that.

tailI guess so (laughs). But I think the peeling paint would make a nice picture if you put it in your house. It's not as if you were saying, "This guy collects miniature cars," but rather, "He collects them as a part of his interior design. So I think two of them are possible in that category (laughs).

flatlandYes . First of all, the African cloths you mentioned earlier. I bought about 20 pieces for the store, as well as for myself . There are places in Japan that sell them, but we are by far the cheapest (laughs)!

flatlandContinuing on with the Africa necklace, it's a Tuareg necklace. I was determined to buy a lot of these items, but I couldn't find any at all.

tailI think we bought up all the tickets last time (laughs).

flatlandI can tell by the way it's carved, but I finally ask the guy selling it. He says, "Show me all the Tuaregs you have." (laughs) .

flatlandNo doubt about it (laughs).

flatlandAnd next is the cloth. I was thinking of using it to hang on the sofa. These are not very cheap in the U.S. either.

tailA long time ago, when they were still not widely distributed, they were much cheaper. . maybe people in Africa realized that they could sell it and started bringing it to the Rose Bowl and other places. Furthermore, Indigo is expensive, even for "blimps. When they see me and know I am Japanese, they are like, "We have Indigo" (laughs). They know that Japanese people want Indigo.

flatlandI think that is completely true.

tailThe Tuaregs come from the Tuareg tribe, and it is said that they are no longer being passed on to Africans from there. They say it is going to Europe and America right away. . If it becomes more recognized from now on, even "blimps" may not be able to buy them anymore.

flatlandI bought the beaded ones, regardless of age, simply because they are cute.

tail. but this is from the 30s or 40s. . there are things like this all over the place.

flatlandIf I had a large quantity, I would have wanted to sell them at the store. The price was reasonable.

flatland. this is simply something I was happy to buy myself. It is a concho belt.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)The one where he carpooled to the same store to get a discount because I was going to buy his product (laughs).

flatlandThank you for that (laughs).

tailIt's cool, isn't it? And the stone is onyx.

flatlandI have seen many leather belts with conchos on them, but it is rare to find a belt with just a concho in Japan. I negotiated the price, and they gave me about one-third of the original price.

flatland. and this is a college football bracelet. Among the "blimps," there is only one booth dedicated to baseball , but they have a great selection of non-baseball sporting goods as well.

tailWhen you go around "blimps," you are awakened to something. Cloth, Africa, etc. .

flatlandI was completely fascinated by cloth and Africa (laughs).

flatlandI also bought two of these bags.

tailShaker's bag is made like an Inden, and it looks like a drawstring.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)It's cool.

tailWhoa, there you go , Navajo monkey.

flatlandYes . I got hooked the last time I went to "Blimp" , but I ended up only buying one this time. It's a great value too.

tailNavajo monkeys are expensive.

flatlandAfter my last visit to "Brim", I looked into Navajo colanders and baskets , and I fell in love with them.

flatlandThe last one is a dream pet of the College ones.

tailThis may be different, but after the war, this kind of thing was being made in Japan. Or perhaps it would be better to say that they were made in Japan. It seems that the government decided to assign the work to Japan for reconstruction. The Japanese are very good with their hands.

flatlandI had no knowledge of this kind of sundries, but I am gradually increasing my knowledge under the influence of the two of them. However, everyone's tastes are slightly different, so I have to find my own way.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)It's financial power (laughs).

flatlandWas it financial resources (laughs)? But I was the last for sure (laughs).

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber). I guess Ozaki-kun has the highest priority.

tail. no, no. After all, in order of how fast you found them, right?

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)First of all, Indian jewelry. . There are a few pieces that I gave away.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber). since I was a teenager. The boss of the motorcycle team I was working for at the time was a metal engraver. I started going to his workshop and became a frequent visitor. This was spurred on by Riki-san, who runs the brand "WING ROCK. My seniors in the vintage clothing business were good friends with Mr. Riki, and I was impressed by his craftsmanship.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)In the last few years, I've been going to the U.S. a lot with Ozaki, and it's rekindling. I think, "Yes, this is what I was most passionate about. This time, I was looking for Indian jewelry. And the Chimayo rugs. I am not particular about whether I like old things or not, and I try to choose things by feeling, but sometimes they happen to be valuable.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)France.HarpoThere is an Indian jewelry store called "Indian Jewelry" and the jewelry they have in that store is made in the French sense of Indian jewelry. . But if the size fits and the price is reasonable, I will buy it.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)I like motifs such as bows and arrows. Ozaki likes swastikas, but I am a little different.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)(The bangle in the center of the photo) Ozaki-kun wanted this one, but I bought it for him the moment he put it back on his desk (laughs).

tailNot many, but when I say there are some, I mean there are.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Gold blends are so simple, aren't they?

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Yes, it is.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)I am in the process of thinking about doing this!

tail(Laughter).

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Yes, I do. As I said before, I don't care about the age or anything.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)I guess that is Navajo after all.

flatlandI am attracted to Hopi and Zuni.

tailHirasawa-kun likes to be a little cute.

flatland. I don't have much to begin with, and I'm still at the beginning of my career. I don't have many to begin with, and I'm still at the beginning of my career, so maybe that's just the way I like it. Also, the price is cute compared to Navajo ones (laughs).

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Well, that part is gradual.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)This is a Hopi wall hanging from the 50's. .

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Well, it was about half the price.

flatland. after all, the use of color is cute, isn't it?

tailYes, it is . It is Navajo. Originally, the swastika was a combination of the four "L "s: Luck, Love, Light, and Life. But in the 40's, it became a Nazi symbol, and the U.S. government issued a ban on swastika motifs. So the only Navajo items that use swastikas are those dating back to the 1940s. That makes them collectibles. The price goes up just because of the swastika motif.

tail. Some stores in the U.S. hide them in the back. This time, I dared to wear a ring, but the dealer saw it and pulled it out from the back, as if to say, "I have it. But in New York, I had to take it off.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)It is a Navajo belt. Like the bangle I mentioned earlier, I have a favorite color of turquoise. I prefer the light blue of Dry Creek, also known as buffalo turquoise.

tail. the stones are slightly different.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Older ones are usually darker. . The color is not as clear as it is now, but duller. The turquoise clasp on the bottom belt alone costs about 300,000 yen, depending on the store.

tail. after all, outside the U.S., there are parts of the country that are deified. . When I go there, or rather, I think "blimps" are sold at a price rather close to the purchase price.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Yes, it's extremely cheap , isn't it?

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)And the big one .

tailThis is the worst one we bought this time.

tailNavajo 20's textile.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)I chose it simply because of the color and condition. I wanted a rug that I thought was really nice. I like this one a lot.

tailThe weaver is also good when it comes to details. The pattern comes out so beautifully. It's a wonderful piece.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)This is a dole-knit area.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber). I'm still attracted to beaded things. The doll on the left is scary, though .

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)And this is the "legendary" bow and arrow (laughs). (Laughs.) At first, I was going to buy just the arrows, but when I was told that "the bow is also included in the set," I said, "Really? I was like, "Really? . Apparently, it was made in the 40's, and I brought it back home on the plane with me.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)I was thinking of setting up a target at the next exhibition and having everyone hit it (laughs). (Laughs.) It flies pretty solidly.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber). finally, a 19th century Indian suit. It seems to belong to the South Indians, said a native I met in Paris.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Basically, we don't. . So I just buy more and more. I buy things without thinking (laughs).

tailYou don't even think about whether or not you're going to run out of money (laughs).

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)I don't think about it. If I run short, I borrow from Mr. Ozaki (laughs).

tail(laughs). (Laughs.) As a side note, I have a ritual of immediately putting on the clothes I buy when I get there. That way, my clothes gradually become more and more colorful (laughs). That's one of the things I look forward to.

flatlandIt's so much fun to be in a fashion of adding, not subtracting at all. Zero subtraction!

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber). and the fact that it's overseas makes me excited.

flatlandI look nothing like I did last year. I couldn't get rid of the "blimp" after I came back.

tailIt's still amazing how "blimps" can change even one's sense of fashion.

flatlandWell, what I do in the store is not an addition, so I'm trying to keep a balance there. . But your private life is becoming more and more intense. I am influenced by the two of you.

tailYou have a bad influence from Tatsumasa-san (laughs).

flatlandI've been told many times at work that I'm not dressed right today, so I'm careful when I stand in the store (laughs). (Laughs.) And I enjoy watching the two of you shop. I get confused about what to buy, but I never get confused about whether to buy or not. It feels good (laughs). Inspired by them, I end up loosening my purse strings, too.

tailSeriously, from our perspective as makers of things, they are resources. It is better to actually have them on hand than to see them and memorize them. . there is so much more to be gained, such as color and texture.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)But when Ozaki found the shaker box, it was a long time before he found it. I wasn't interested, so I said, "He's ahead of me.

tailNo, no, no, the clerk may be in the middle of serving a customer , or there may not be a credit card reader.

flatland. there is such a thing as a bad bargaining chip if it's a credit card.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Yes, I agree. Cash would go down a lot.

tailAlso, a lot of people put sales tax on it. So, if you go, I recommend cash.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)But I lost all the cash I had brought with me on the first day... (laughs).

flatlandI would like to go to Africa. . or rather, I would like to go to see the folk art of the indigenous people. Also, I have never been to the Rose Bowl, so I would like to go there someday.

tailOne is social networking. Marfa was connected through social networking. I thought Austin, Texas would be an interesting place to visit. I also go to places and find out where the people are operating their stores. I like folklore, so I like places where a mysterious culture is rooted. I go to museums and discover things like, "This area is hot because of the heat," or "This area is near a river, so this is what it looks like," and then I actually go there.

tailI go to Marfa every year. It's relaxing, and even though it's in the countryside, it has a proper culture. It's a nice town.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)It's nice, isn't it? I'd definitely go back too.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber). I will be in Santa Fe in the near future.

streamers (made of fibre, paper, etc.) attached to a long pole (fiber)Well, there is that, but there are also some things that, for a moment, I can't talk about here....