A visitor photographs kokeshi dolls with a smartphone at Oi Racecourse in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo. (©Sankei by Hideyuki Matsui)
The Tokyo City Flea Market, held nearly every weekend at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward, draws large numbers of foreign visitors. As you walk through the market, a mix of languages fills the air, and shoppers browse at their own pace. What kinds of bargains are overseas visitors hoping to find?
Kokeshi Dolls and Sake Flasks
Rows of sake flasks and small cups are spread out on the ground. A foreign visitor crouches down, picking them up one by one to examine their shapes and colors. Sake vessels, essential to enjoying Japanese sake, are among the items that feel distinctly Japanese.
At stalls selling kokeshi dolls, many visitors pause to take photos on their smartphones. These simple wooden dolls, long part of everyday life in Japan, appeal as charming and photogenic souvenirs.
Antique dealer Tadafumi Yamashita's booth also attracts steady interest from foreign tourists. Visitors carefully leaf through postcards depicting Mount Fuji, hot spring towns, and streets in regional cities. "Postcards from the late 1960s are especially popular," Yamashita says. "Many people are fascinated by scenes from Japan's past."
Selling Nostalgia
Video games are another major draw. At a stall selling Super Famicom cartridges and other retro titles, a man from Australia bought a Game Boy Color along with a copy of Tetris. "I love retro games," he said with a smile. "I'm happy I could buy them in Japan."
According to stall owner Hiromi Suda, about 90 percent of customers are foreign visitors. Classic games are particularly popular, and many shoppers specifically seek out Japanese editions. "Customers have become more discerning," she says. "Whether it's Pokémon or Mario, more people now insist on Japanese versions."
Oi Racecourse is usually bustling with horse racing fans, but on weekends it takes on a different role. The flea market has become a hidden attraction, turning Japanese antiques and collectibles into a new draw for international tourists.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Hideyuki Matsui, The Sankei Shimbun
