No99

Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No 99.It has been very hot these days, and the news said the temperature was the same as the temperature of July. Three days ago, June 1st was the opening day of the ayu(sweetfish) fishing season. Ayu fishing is considered to be the most sophisticated fishing among various fishings, and many anglers had longed the day. There is the many photos of ayu fishing. We can enjoy photos of ayu, and the stream sceneries as well. http://www.yuyuyu.jp/photo/2005/index1.htmAyu is also very delicious fish, and ayu dishes are also 'syun'(season).I don't fish ayu, altough I enjoy trout fishing in the stream. For the ayu fishing we use special kind of technique and tools for 'tomuzuri'( angle forwith a live decoy), and it is not easy. I hope to begin ayu fishing someday.
At an auction in Kyoto, which was held a few days ago, I heard an interesting story.At that auction very rare nobori bata ( long flag for boy's festival days ) was offered. It had very unique 'karako'( child figure in China ) motif, and its picture was vivid and very artistic. Width was approx 90cm(35in) and it was verylong. I couldn't win, and winner was the Mr. K, who was the most famous nobori bata collector. He was said to have best pieces of antique nobori bata, and wehave read his article in Daruma Magazine.
Ordinary antique nobori bata is made of narrow size cotton. Comparatively new one has wide width like this piece. (Its width is 72cm-28in).http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=75371Antique nobori bata is ordinarily made of narrow width cotton like this piece. ( Its width is 38cm-15in).http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2.php?number=64865When antique nobori has wide width, usaully two fabrics are used, and jointed in the center. I thought this was good point to know the age of nobor bata.
But the nobori bata, which Mr. K won had wide width, and not jointed in the center. I asked him about that piece.
He said that piece was very rare, and he didn't come across similar one before. It is from Edo period or early Meiji peirod ( 1868-1912), and its textile seems to be imported. Before approx 1910 ( Meiji 40) weaving loom of cotton could weave only 35-38cm(approx 15in). So if there was a wide cotton fabric before theage, it is considered to be imported. And imported cotton at that age had to be very expensive, and only used by very rich family or made for very special occasion.That nobori bata he won was considered to be made by multiple persons collectively - for example, a village made it for special festival days. We understood why it has wide width in spite of its old age.
Mr. K seemed to be very very happy to be able to get it.
Several months ago, I asked him about his collection. I asked him, 'You must payincredibly lot of money to collect such rare items! How can you do that?'He told us very good rule to collet valuable items.'To become a good collector, you must focus on an unique item you especially like. If you got 10 - 30, you don't need to buy similar items more. If you come across better one you already have, you must buy it even though the price ishigh. And you get it, and you should sell one of your collection, which you think the most valueless one in your collection. If you repeat this way, you collection will not increase with similar items, and you can upgrade the value and rareness of your collection.'
We thought his 'collection rule' is very good idea. Always selling prices are way lower compared to buying prices, but if we do so, we can save lots of money and space. How do you feel his collection rule?
Today we will list fukusa, ranru, oshie dolls and bolts--we will be very happy if you have some time to check our new arrivals.New arrivals will be added in about 4 - 5 hours.
Rice pond and frogs are waiting for rain--our rainy season is almost here!We wish you a happy new week!