No 128


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan. This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.128.Several days ago, an ambitious young guy became subjected to a criminal investigation. He is the CEO of one of the most biggest internet company of Japan, and was a frequent guest on TV shows and author of many books like "How to Make 10 Billion Yen." He told a dream to make Liverdoor 'the most biggest company by market value', got more than 100 billion dollars at Fuji Television Network purchasing tactics. He tried to buy pro baseball team, ran unsuccessfully for parliament in last September, and stated to begin the interplanetary travel business. Started in 1997, began from making software, took over many companies,and recently he was eyed as a new executive who could break the deadlock of Japan. His technique to take over was making their stocks higher with share splitting, and buying with exchange of shares. He have attracted heavy doses of both praise and censure, because of his audacious statements and his fashion style( we have never seen his necktie style!). In his book he wrote he could buy also women's heart with money, and went a resort with female personality by his private jet. He is very popluar among young people, and establised and aged people bend their brows to see him.Authorities seems to think there were some illegal activities on the processes of buyouts. Mass communications dramatically change his figure - from a hero to a fallen idol, and they are waiting the arrest of him.I didn't know him personally, and have nothing special affection about him. But media's stance, which reflects populace, make me sad. I don't like him always, but there is no doubt that he is one of the most ambitious and strong man in Japan. He is only 33 years, and he was strong enough to endure the takeover war against all economic circles. I never could do!I hope he will survive, and become a more great man - maybe I wish he change his goal.
By the way very tiny entrepreneurs, Ichiro & Yuka Wada launch new site now!We have started 'Antique ICHIROYA' last week. We will offer more charming Japanese antiques at that site with careful Hisami selection.And today we have opened new site 'Tour J Artisan'
http://www.tourjartisan.com/ What is 'Tour J Artisan?' During our ICHIROYA business and my 20 years career at department store, I always wish to sell contemporary handicrafts. There are huge amout of various traditional techniques and crafts all over Japan, which have great charm for us. But in the modern economic ambience makes the handicraft situation bad, and their traditions are being replaced with engineering products or cheaper (and with low quality) imported items. We always are astonished to see the antique items's incredibly elaborate details, and imagine how they will cost if they are made now by contemporary artisans. The prices of valuable antique items are not expensive compared to modern handicraft. But we know they were way expensive when they were made. They were made only for very prosperous minority people, and they supported artisans and artists.We are very happy if you are interested in Japanese handicrafts and become a supporter of the tradition. For you, we will try best to make or change the items for Western lives. We want to introduce valuable( and only in the topflight) Japanese handicrafts at our new site 'Tour J Artisan'.You are invited to acompany us, as I tours the workshops of JAPANESE ARTISANS all over our country. I will introduce Japanese modern handicrafts, while informing you who the artisans are, how they work, and what types of artistic or environmental climates develop their interests and skills. At the first tour, I went to Oita prefecture in Kyusyu and visited a bamboo artisan. Mr. Takae is the foremost authority on Bamboo Bag. He is really a charming person, and we are very proud to introduce him as the first artisan of our site.His bags are not inexpensive, but you must to tell their qualiy and design if you check the photos. We guarantee his bags are best of best in the world, which we can have now!
After him, we are plannning to introduce Tsuzure Ori Bag and Bizen pottery now. You must be astonished to see how the Bizen pottery burned with 'Nobori-gama' for TWO weeks.
http://www.tourjartisan.com/
Today we will list our items from now.Haori, Yukata, Geta, Men's Cotton Kaku Obi and Bolt at Kimono Site, and Usabata, Panel, Lacquerware, Kodansu and others at Antique Site. We are very happy if you could also these new items.And we have changed our server last night. We hope our server response becomes more rapid than before.
Thank you very much for reading to the end. We wish you a nice weekend!
Ichiro & Yuka WadaKimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.comaddress: Asia-shoji Bldg.301 1841-1 Nishi 1 chome Wakamatsu cho Tondabayashi city Osaka 584-0025 JAPANTEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446