I Went Shopping at The BEST THRIFT STORE in Japan...

A day filled with hidden gems in Kyoto's best thrift shops! Everything from Japanese antiques, to brand items, games, retro tech, and more!!
The amount of amazing retro tech that we were able to find in this Japanese thrift store was fantastic for a place that is mostly focused on housewares and antiques!! And bringing everything we bought, back to my Akihabara studio made for quite possibly the best Japan thrift haul yet!!

SHAMISEN PLUSHIE HERE (While Quantities Last)

Noah can be found @DongleBookPro or @noahjjohnson

ARK KYOTO (Ark Recycle) Thrift Store

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**Where to Send Stuff** - As of 10.2021
Norm Nakamura - Tokyo Creative Redhorse Corporation Co. Ltd
1-10-5 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Kokugikan Front Bldg 2F
130-0015
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Tokyo Lens Podcast:

[TokyoLens]

BEST HAUL EVER!!
What would YOU have bought? Join the discussion down below!!
Thinking of doing one GIANT unboxing and haul vid of a bunch of the thrift finds I've found so far!!
Might even do it live! You can find that one over on Patreon!! (linked!)

[FGBFGB-vttc]

12:38 : Norm, that spring-like item is for exercising your hands. My late father had to do rehabilitation after an operation and he did his strength exercises for each finger by putting it in his palm then closing each finger as if they were to reach his palm in sequence. Also by gripping it.

[strippinheat]

I always appreciate how Japanese people tend to take care of their things. I've bought several older items that are pristine. You can regularly find collector's editions of old games complete in the boxes like they were brand new. It warms My heart as someone that used to work at GameStop and would regularly have people bring in games that were loose and scratched up. And it's not like they're doing it to retain some collector's value, they just care for stuff. Maybe they're worried about if their things will turn into tsukumogami.

[thecolortwelve]

As usual your enthusiasm for exploring thrift stores is a delight.

[nathanharper]

I love the unadulterated joy you have in finding these things. You've been in Japan for years now but you still enjoy the nature, beauty and splendor of the country. It is refreshing and awe inspiring. I love catching your videos and adding new places to my wish list of places to see when I finally get to come to Japan. Thank you for everything!

[Laerckz]

That planer at 9:46 is not for wood working. It is actually a fish planer, specifically for bonito flakes and the wooden box below the planer is for catching the fish shavings called Katsuobushi ( 鰹節). The fish are basically cooked for an hour, then smoked and preserved until they are rock hard, and then planed to get the shavings. These shavings are used to make dashi which is a broth used in a lot of japanese cooking, especially for miso soup.

[yossisureta]

I love the thrift shop series❤ definitely I’m gonna stop by Ark if I’m going to Kyoto!! And YEEEES your tech buddy is back🎉 so fun to watch you two together😂

[Spirow]

Love it when Norm has someone along with him, he bounces so well with anyone he takes along!

[Stormcrow]

Omg, that record player! 😍 To find an RCA Victor in that good of shape is super rare! I think some of those lamps would be amazing conversation pieces. Also, the robot is adorable! I want to know more about it!

[With_Me_JAPAN]

Watching you guys finding interesting items is so much fun just like kids opening Christmas gift boxes😆🎁
I do remember a glass made ashtray used to stay right next to a leather sofa in my grand parents’ house! Lots of nostalgia can be found ne☺️

[Countiii]

12:50
That's a Grasp Spring, sometimes sold as a 3 in one stress relief / grip trainer / paperclip :D

[hihillari]

Like someone else mentioned, it feels like Japanese people in general tend to take exquisite care of their items. I’ve ordered a fair few used items from Japan and they always come in better condition than most brand new US items.

[pauladavitt]

Norm gets excited over the robot and I instantly spot the large box of yarn right in front of him.

[Embarrassed_Mess_]

Thrift stores are the best! It’s so much fun to see what mysteries await you there. 😂

Thanks for bringing us along! 😊

[BathoryBat]

Those tiny swords are so cute! I also actually really love those old dress forms. They wouldn't be particularly useful to me because they're definitely way smaller than I am, but antique dress forms just feel nostalgic in the way that heritage and living history museums are.
I would absolutely get that tabletop and fill the missing sections with an epoxy resin and faux moss (Many craft mosses that you can find in the US that claim to be real moss are actually lichen that take significantly longer to grow than actual moss, and I don't know how to tell them apart)
The SCREAM I SCRUMPT at the Gloomy I'm such a sucker for Gloomy Bear and I never considered one would ever be seen in a thrift store. They're not particularly old, but they are definitely something that a lot of people collect, so they tend to be sold second hand by the actual owners. Gloomy is a character created by Mori Chack, a graphic designer from Osaka, and is a giant, man eating, pink bear. But there are other color variations of the character like the black one in that store.

[watchingtime]

It's so cool to see the variety in items between thrift stores in the US and thrift stores in Japan!! Most of the things in this haul would've been behind a glass case for auction over here haha, it seems so nice to be able to just buy all of this super cool stuff!

[Zimgirgaz]

I'm beginning to think if I ever get to go to Japan, an entire week of strolling through thrift stores would not be out of the question. 😻

[luac]

If I have the chance to go to Japan, a thrift store tour would be a must, the amount of pristine objects is outstanding! Also the little robot guy is very cute... btw, probably somebody answer already, but the spring thingies are apparently "spring grip balls"

[ozidanni]

That is really amazing that they found your video and invited you to film this one. Some of this stuff is gorgeous, especially the Wooden Apothecary Cabinets. I always love those, I don't know what I'd do with one though. Haha. But they add so much character and story to any room. And OH, a brown leather armchair in the second store, it'll go perfect with those cabinets! Oooh, and 9:05 I saw a little robot! I want the robot! I love op-shops. I'm typing as I watch and now I'm at 14minutes, and I'm SO GLAD you found the robot! Haha. OH, you got the robot! I'm so glad. From that 9minutes mark I was "get the robot!" Haha.

[tammi]

I love thrift stores! It's so interesting to see the variety of items. That robot is amazing! So glad you bought it.