Setagaya Boro Ichi

Lots of antiques - darn it!  I just saw the blender in the picture.  I might have
bought it if I had noticed it at the market!  Electronics are expensive in Japan.

Some friends and I train out to the western part of Tokyo to visit the Setagaya Boro Ichi - a biannual antique/flea market that's been taking place in this location for over 400 years.  It's held on December 15 and 16 and January 15 and 16, no matter what days of the week they fall on.  It's also one of the largest events, with over 700 booths of stuff.

Lots of food choices

Our first stop is the food avenue.  Lots of different meals are freshly cooked at each tent.  I can't resist the sweet potato fries (with salt, though I could have had them with sugar).  Yum!  I love this about Tokyo festivals - you will always find lots of different street food.

Breakfast of champions!

The okonomiyaki (savory pancakes) look good, too - but I need two hands to eat them, making it difficult to eat as I walk and pull my cart, so I decide to pass.

Maybe a snack for later!

The market is very crowded, though it seems to come in waves.  Sometimes you're shoulder to shoulder across the entire street, then you have a lull. 

At least all the people help to keep you warm.

I know I might be in trouble when one of the first vendors has precut fabric and some obi (obis - plural form??) for sale.  I get away with just buying some of the precuts, but I can't resist at some of the other booths.  The second-hand kimonos and obis are much less expensive then buying them new at the store.  I'm not sure what I'll do with them at this time.  An obi makes a nice table runner or wall hanging.  They can also be easily cut up for placemats.  Of course, they can always be used for quilts!  I'm sure I'll figure out something by the time I'm back to the US.

Used kimonos for sale

Precut fabric, obis and some cute little kits, too

Sometimes it's all piled together...

Sometimes you can tell it's people selling their own family belongings, and other times it's professionals selling objects they've purchased at auction or estate sales.  My friends recognize certain shop owners from other antique/flea markets.  

There's lots of kitchen supplies for sale.  I almost regret that I'm not an "antique" person - you can find all sorts of cool Japanese kitchenware here.

...other times it's more organized.

Molds for making Japanese sweets.  I had no idea these existed.

I also find some neat fabric paraphernalia!  The stiff paper stencils (3 layers of washi paper glued together with persimmon juice) are cut by hand, then used to print on kimonos.  Framed, they might make a pretty piece of art. 

One of the katagami for sale

LOVE the sign in English!

There are a few tents with people displaying items they have made - knitted gear, paintings, and wooden carvings...

These are shinto shrines, but do you think the gods
would be upset if you used it as a dollhouse?

...and a few with plants and fruit.

Lots of citrus this time of year - 
you can even buy the tree.

Very cute!  I'd buy one if I could take it
home to the US.

The police are able to keep an eye on everything, with their raised platform.  I've seen them around, on the ground, but this is the first time I've seen them lifted up in the air.  There are manned police stations on practically every block in Tokyo.  It's one part of what keeps the crime so low here.

Keeping everyone safe and sound.

On my way out of the market I see a woman serving mulled wine.  What a perfect way to warm up at the end of several hours outdoors!

I should have asked for her recipe!

At home I'm able to take pictures of some of my purchases.  Here's the backs of two kimonos, bought for completely opposite reasons!  I chose the cherry blossom pattern  because it's such a traditional type of Japanese design.  The green flower (peony?  I have to look that up) kimono has a beautiful traditional background print (zoom in to see it) but the colors and the way the flowers are on the kimono are unlike any that I've seen.  The picture makes the kimono look like it's white, but it's really a pale lime color, and the flowers are shades of green and aqua.  I didn't even notice the gold embroidery until I got home.  Both kimonos have obvious spots on them (I've been told they won't come out) and are probably rayon, not silk (I need to check that, too) but they were only $10 each, so I'm not complaining.  I'm not sure what I'll do with these, yet.

traditional

non-traditional (and a little wrinkly)

Maybe I can put this one out in autumn.

Here are my obis!  I heard the ones with pictures of people and landscapes are worth more, but I prefer the ones with geometric designs.  Luckily I don't have to worry if a Japanese person and I are shopping at the same booth - we tend to like different kinds so we don't reach for the same ones. 

Do you see the little bit of green and pink thread design?  Hint - look to the bottom left.