Rediscovery at Kanda Jimbocho: The Timeless 'Newness' at Former Tailor Tsuruya

When you think of Tokyo's Kanda and Jimbocho, it is undoubtedly an area teeming with secondhand bookstores. With approximately 130 stores, it is indeed the world's largest book town.

In addition to secondhand bookstores, there are also many coffee shops and curry houses, and nowadays it is popular among young people. In this intellect-satisfying town of Jimbocho, there exists the 'Former Tailor Tsuruya'.

From the exterior, it looks like a well-established clothing store, but peeking into the display window reveals striking miscellaneous goods, making it an attractive shop that you can't help but be drawn to.

The inside of the shop is decorated with knick-knacks from the cultural goods shops that used to liven up Shibuya and Harajuku, key holders that we also used to collect when we were kids, and kitschy items, and there is a touch of nostalgia and a sense of delight if you're of the Showa generation.

What kind of shop is Former Tailor Tsuruya, filled with captivating items? This time, we spoke with the shop owner, Iwafune, about her store which stimulates our hearts.