Tokyo Jinja…in Doha

So I have been here three weeks now and settling in fairly nicely. The house is getting unpacked, albeit more slowly than I might like. There is not an inch of hanging room left anywhere and three wardrobe boxes yet to unpack. Amazing that my much smaller Tokyo house had much better storage, isn’t it? The girls have found their way at school and both are happy – even the teenager has admitted (in front of me no less) that she is liking it here. My sweet husband is just so glad that we are all together again and brought me such joy today by surprising me with reversing the refrigerator and freezer doors so that they open the correct way. Such a small thing can make me happy, especially in these early days. And everyone said it couldn’t be done so trust him to make it happen!

The part that is taking longer is figuring out exactly how to start reinventing the Tokyo Jinja side of me – my blog, my business, my personal identity, so that I can grow but keep you all traveling with me. I’m not going to let go of the Japan side of things and if you pop over to the Shrine Sale/Antique Show Schedule, you’ll see that I have updated it. I’m timing this post so that all my devoted readers in Tokyo can wake up on Sunday morning to a fresh fall schedule. But as a shout-out to those readers – I can’t do it alone! I look forward to hearing from you about life at the sales, whether it be stories about favorite dealers, photos of finds or news on the ever-changing schedule front. You are now my eyes and ears and I am happy to spread the word. I’ve also updated the About Me page, which was long overdue.

On the shrine sale front I have to mention a few things, including what seems to be the closing of the beloved Oedo Antiques Market (more here, here and here) at the International Forum in Yurakacho at the end of 2013. Right now I don’t know if that is temporary or not and I will get back to you with the news as soon as possible. The smaller market in Yoyogi will still be taking place once a month on an irregular schedule and it is unclear to me whether all the dealers may flock there. Details in the new schedule, but let me know if you hear anything please!

Before I left Tokyo I had a few chances to visit one of the newest sales in central Tokyo, but never got around to writing about it. Mid-way along Kotto-dori a small and very decorative market has opened.

It is mostly European and American vintage goods and collectibles, but sometimes you need a fix of those. You all know how I feel about vintage luggage…

…not as hot for the antler craze, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t.

So in many ways nothing has changed. I’ll continue to be out there at the forefront of the search for the antique, the handicraft, the artistic and the artisanal. Tokyo Jinja is a state of mind no matter where my body may reside and I hope you’ll stay with me along my journey.

Sep 14, 2013 By tokyojinja in Antique Shows, Doha Move, Expat Life, Shrine Sales and Flea Markets 14 Comments Tags: Doha, Japan, japanese antiques, Oedo Antique Fair, shrine sale

Instagram…Another Bandwagon I’m Getting On

Today was a crisp and very cold day at the Oedo market at the International Forum, but as usual there was lots to see and plenty to buy. I have been wanting to find a way to start sharing what I am seeing at the markets every week, but when there isn’t a theme or cohesive feeling about the merchandise I find it fairly boring to post about. I have been thinking that real-time photos of what I am buying, both for myself and for sale, might be more fun and more interesting for both me and for my readers. So as of today, my plans are to start instagramming (is that a verb yet?) while I am out and about at shrine sales and antique shows. So if you would like to keep up with me, you can follow me on Instagram on your mobile device here.

One of the fun parts of Instagram if you haven’t tried it is playing with the filters and the framing to add special effects to your photos. Typical me, I like all the filters that give an aged feel…

…and I am a sucker for those old-fashioned photo borders…

…or burned edges.

I already made a faux pas in editing this photo down so that it didn’t fit the Instagram format. Won’t make that mistake again.

The photos have the perfect format for a blog post – a nice big square. There is also a very effective exposure button, used to fun effect here.

This art deco mirror glows like a jewel using one of the filters.

Kasuri kimonos seem lit from within.

As usual Oedo was full of European goods, these lace patterns being some of my favorites.

No lack of British goods either. This collection rivals any I’ve seen in English antique shops.

Couldn’t resist these door knockers – just for Steve at An Urban Cottage.

And you know you want it…If you see items you want to buy, just let me know via email.

I made a couple of wonderful scores for myself, including this handmade folksy heart chair. It has a beautiful grey-blue wash paint and is soooo much prettier than it looks in this photo – the only find of the day that the Instagram filters failed to enhance.

I know just where this sweet little baby is going to go…

I have also been finding the most irresistible and inexpensive art lately which deserves a post of its own. But this little oval print (nothing better than a few art pieces with circles or ovals to break up a lot of rectangles) is headed to my youngest daughter’s room at the beach…

…along with this chiyogami you may remember from here. She begged me to hold it back for her from the sale so I did.

Won’t they look so sweet in here?

I am going to try to add the Instagram button to my sidebar, probably right below the Pinterest one. But I am including the link here again, in case I am not successful.

Jan 20, 2013 By tokyojinja in Antique Shows, Shrine Sales and Flea Markets 3 Comments Tags: antiques, English Antiques, French antiques, Instagram, japanese antiques, Oedo Antique Fair, photography, shrine sale

Big News…Oedo Antique Market on Hiatus Until March and Sale at Akariya Kanarusha

I’ll be updating the Shrine Sale tab on the blog, but I wanted to catch all my readers and let them know that the Oedo Antique Market held on the grounds of the International Forum will be on hiatus due to renovations through February of 2012. The first market next year is expected to be held on Sunday, March 4, 2012. I’ll keep you up to date on the situation as it unfolds.

Other news includes the annual sale at Kanarusha, a fantastic Japanese antique store out near The American School in Japan. More information can be found here, in a previous post, and here, on their website. If you liked my last post on tansu, now might be the time to get one!

Nov 1, 2011 By tokyojinja in Shop Talk, Shrine Sales and Flea Markets 5 Comments Tags: Akariya Kanarusha, flea market, Oedo Antique Fair, shrine sale, Tokyo flea market

My Kitchen Island is Back on the Table

Just been perusing the Jayson Home Fall Flea Market full of to-die-for antiques and other items, when I spied this late 19th century marble-topped cast iron table from France…

Close-up

…And this Belgian one with a salvaged oak top.

Close-up

Now I have talked a lot about the perfect kitchen island for my tiny Victorian beach cottage here. And just a few weeks ago I waxed endlessly about my long-term dream island from Peri Wolfman’s house here. And we all know that whatever I choose will be antique, but all of a sudden, the particular charm of a cast iron table base has really caught my attention. It wasn’t just these offerings at Jayson Home either. I saw one, brought all the way from France, at the Oedo market that day out shopping with Peri. I loved it – it was sold of course – and I wasn’t dragging it back to the US anyway (imagine the carbon footprint on transport from France to Japan to the USA). But I think the idea has been germinating in the back of my mind for a while.

The more I think about it I realize the idea is not a new one for me. I looked at a similar one this summer in Asbury Park at the great cast iron and garden furniture store.

It had a great rusty patina (I can hear some of you chuckling at that idea) but I also might have considered painting it. It was actually too small and once again sold to boot, but I liked the idea then. It was also missing its marble top.

Side view

So I went off to check that magic market of all things – eBay – and came up with a few gorgeous, but wildly expensive options (the items at Jayson have pretty hefty price tags too), including this 1920s French marble-topped butchers table with bull head details.