Hello. My name is Koji Yamada.
I have been working in the fashion industry in Tokyo for many years, and recently I have been working as a fashion analyst, mainly on my blog.
For my job, I have visited countless fashion-related stores and continue to research regularly and explore new stores.
In this blog, I would like to introduce some of the fashion stores I have found during my research, as well as some of the delicious and reasonably priced restaurants I have visited during my research.
The locations that appear in this article are shared here on Google My Map.
Surprisingly many used bookstores in Kichijoji
One of my hobbies and jobs is visiting used bookstores.
I have already been to Jimbocho, mentioned above, many times, but I wondered if there was any other town in Tokyo with used bookstores other than Jimbocho. I wondered, and after checking around on Google Maps, I found out that there are many used bookstores in Kichijoji.
I have visited Kichijoji many times, though not often.
However, I had never imagined that there were many used bookstores in Kichijoji.
Used book Yomitaya
The first place I visited was the used book Yomitaya, located just a short walk from Kichijoji Station. The name "Yomitaya"(mean, I want to read books) is very nice.
When I visited, there were several people browsing the wagons in the storefront, and I could sense that the place was busy.
The store is quite spacious for a used bookstore, and there is a section for fashion books, some of which I was interested in.
There was also a large selection of Men's Club, the fashion magazine that led the Japanese men's traditional fashion, and it was apparent that the store was focusing on fashion-related items.
I ended up purchasing a 2010s POPEYE from the affordable magazine section on the right side of the entrance, from the era in which my favorite stylist Akio Hasegawa participated.
昨日の吉祥寺古本屋ディグ、古本よみた屋で戦利品は10s長谷川昭雄さん期のPOPEYE。
— 山田耕史 書籍「結局、男の服は普通がいい」発売中 (@yamada0221) 2022年8月27日
長谷川さん期POPEYEは結構な数を@saito_d から譲って貰ったんですが、手元にないのを見つけました。
怒涛の情報量にはほんと、畏敬の念を懐きます。 pic.twitter.com/e3gpQHQMnA
Used Book Nonki
The next stop was Used Book Nonki, located a few minutes' walk fromYomitaya.
This is a cozy store, but there was a fashion section.
There are a few books that you may be interested in, such as a collection of interviews with fashion designers, which were released in the 80's. The products are uploaded on Instagram so it is easy to get a feel for the atmosphere.
Used Book Center
The next stop was the Used Book Center, located on the south side of Kichijoji Station, deep in a cluttered shopping area lined with izakaya (Japanese style pubs) and other establishments.
The entrance to the store is located at the back of the building, so it is a bit hard to find.
I was walking along while looking at Google Maps on my smart phone and passed by it once without noticing.
When I visited here, I could not find many fashion-related books.
The reason why I am introducing this used bookstore is because it has an atmosphere of a "Showa-era used bookstore," which is rare these days.
When I was a child, I remember there were many used bookstores like this in Kobe, where I was born and raised.
However, there are almost no used bookstores with this kind of atmosphere in Kobe anymore, and the same is probably true in Tokyo.
The fact that sex-related books make up a large percentage of the store is also a nice touch to the Showa period.
Basara Books
Located in the same shopping district as Used Book Center is Basara Books here.
The atmosphere of the shop and the owner, a man who seems to be the owner of the shop, are stylish. The store and its owner, an older brother, both have a stylish atmosphere.
As mentioned in the article above, the main items are subculture-related, such as music, movies, and manga.
There was not much in the way of fashion, but when I visited, I found a copy of "WHAT'S NEXT? TOKYO CULTURE STORY," an easy-to-understand introduction to the flow of Japanese casual fashion by BEAMS, which has been featured on this blog before.
This is a very good book that many people should read, but it is now out of print and has a premium on Amazon.
Hyakunen
Next is Hyakunen(hundred years), located on the south side of the Tokyu Department Store.
It is a little hard to find, but the store is on the second floor up the stairs next to a clothing store called "STEPS.
This shop seemed to focus mainly on art and culture-related items, and although there were not so many fashion-related items, the selection of new books and independent magazines showed a particular attention to detail.
The store also seems to hold frequent events, making it seem like a center of Kichijoji culture.
防破堤
Bouhatei(breakwater) is located one street south of the street where Hyakunen is located, and is marked by a sign on a street lined with residences.
A small store on the second floor of an apartment-like building. Literature, movies, and music are the main items, and there are few fashion items here as well.
Book Mansion
Book Mansion is an interesting type of bookstore called a "shared bookstore.
The restaurant is located in the basement down a flight of stairs facing the street, so it may be a little hard to find.
As posted on Twitter, this is a store where individuals rent a section of shelves and place their own books.
ブックマンション、本日は閉店。お一人お一人の滞在時間長く、夕方以降はずっと話しっぱなし。声が、かすかすです笑
— ハタハタショボウ (@hata2books) 2022年9月14日
棚は、今日の選書を引き継いで（１枚目）。２枚目の写真は、店番前にCanvaで遊んでたら中西さんがリソで刷ってくれたもの。選書意図など。棚にもあるので、気になる方はご自由に〜！ pic.twitter.com/pU6WZ5Kyk9
吉祥寺のブックマンション棚番号No.70、屋号「みなと広場」で棚主始めました。よろしくお願いします。#ブックマンション pic.twitter.com/tTOn0u65xv
— みなと広場 (@minatohiroba) 2022年9月11日
Therefore, the books on display seem to change from time to time.
When I visited, there were almost no fashion-related books, but this may be a bookstore where you can enjoy a treasure hunt similar to a recycle store dig, where you can find books you never expected to find.
TOKYO BOOK PARK
TOKYO BOOK PARK is not a used bookstore, but a limited-time event held at Kichijoji Parco.
It was held from May to October 2022.
This time we obtained fashion magazines from the 90s and 80s.
本日の戦利品。
— 山田耕史 書籍「結局、男の服は普通がいい」発売中 (@yamada0221) 2022年9月16日
吉祥寺パルコで開催中の @TOKYOBOOKPARK で、90sのショップ特集、80sデザイン特集のブルータス。
内容はそのうちツイッターかブログでご紹介するつもりです。 pic.twitter.com/XZbo62toNi
Chinese Soba Noodle in Shellfish Broth Take Sho
For lunch that day, I went to Chinese Soba Noodle in Shellfish Broth Take Sho, a ramen restaurant a few minutes' walk from Kichijoji Station, serving ramen with shellfish broth.
I love ramen noodles with shellfish broth.
The restaurant is located in the basement down a flight of stairs.
Ticket vending machine. Payment was by cash only. There is a paper apron next to the ticket machine.The blue button is for soy sauce soba, the white button for salt soba, the pink button for miso soba, the black button for limited menu items, and the red button for shellfish rice.
The counter seating features the specialties of the ingredients.The shellfish soup is made from a large amount of scallops and scallops in a broth made from kelp, plus chicken broth.
It is nice to know that not only tissues but also wet wipes are provided at each seat.
This time, I ordered the shell noodle soup soy sauce soba (850 yen) with a large serving of noodles (100 yen).
Yuzu kosho is served on a separate plate.
Noodles neatly served. I've never seen a transparent lentil before.
After all, soup with shellfish broth is delicious.
The homemade shellfish tsukune has a good texture of kneaded shellfish.
I'm looking forward to seeing more lunch in Kichijoji, as I have yet to explore the area.
