Boro-Ichi Flea Market

This flea market dates back to the year 1578 and is held only twice a year in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo.

The name boro-ichi is said to derive from the initial highlight—old fabric scraps, or boro. Today, the fair attracts as many as 700 vendors of food, starting with the specialty Daikan-mochi rice cakes, as well as personal ornaments, toys, antiques, and potted plants. It started out in the 1570s as a raku-ichi, or early “free market,” where taxes were removed to boost the economy. Later, it became a toshi-no-ichi, or year-end market, offering farming equipment and New Year’s goods on December 15 each year. With the advent of the Meiji period of modernization in 1868, and the switch from the lunar calendar to the Gregorian calendar, the market was held also on January 15. At present, it has grown into an annual two-day event set for the 15th and 16th of both December and January.

Of course it get´s really crowded. You can shop for household articles like the wooden kitchen ware and brushes etc. And of course there are lot of food stands, selling the famous rice cakes or green tea.

I was more interested in the traditional flea market articles like this huge collection of “kokeshi´s”, japanese wooden dolls.

But actually I was there to shoot some nice portraits. The following photos were taken with the Leica Monochrom, which takes pictures only in black and white.

This man sells metal plates which are attached to japanese swords, between the handle and the blade. The various designs stand for the various makers and owners of the swords. First time I saw such items. He did not have too many customers..