A cheap day out

Yesterday I went to a flea market with a couple of friends. They told me they didn't want to buy anything, and I said that didn't matter, I was mostly just planning to take pictures anyway, although I might buy something if I saw something I couldn't resist. They thought that was a good idea, and both turned up with cameras round their necks.

At the end of the day they were both laden down with packages and excuses ("But it was cheap! But it's so beautiful!") and worries ("Where am I going to put these things?").

What I brought home with me takes up a lot less space. In fact it all fits on my hard drive.

I had a cheap day out.

Gramophone

If I lived in a place where I had space to display this sort of thing, I would have bought it. Well, I would have asked the price, at least. But I don't, do I didn't.

Isn't it lovely, though?


Here is the label. I liked the label, too.



Oh, whoops. I just noticed that this is a 'graphophone,' not a gramophone. My title is wrong.

What is the difference between a graphophone and a gramophone, anyway?

Ebisu

Ebisu is one of the seven lucky gods.

Bad driver

"Coursh I'm not too drunk to drive. Shomeone nicked my shteering wheel, thash all."

Old postcards

My friend ended up buying this album of old postcards from the time of the Sino-Japanese war. On that last one, the caption on the right hand postcard says, General Nogi on way to the Palace.

Iguanas

At the flea market today there was a guy with his pet iguanas in his bicycle basket. They seemed pretty interested in what was happening around them, and kindly posed to have their pictures taken.





More photos of the flea market will follow, eventually.

Another day out

I went to a flea market today. As usual, I took quite a few pictures, although not always of the things or people I wanted to take pictures of. I find it hard to point a camera at people, even if they are dressed in such a way they're positively begging to be photographed. Somehow it seems rude, and since I didn't have the longer lens attached to the camera I did not get as many people shots as I would have liked.

I got one, though. This old guy was dressed interestingly, wearing tabi (two-toed socks), and a face mask.


Whether the mask was because he had a cold or because of seasonal allergies I don't know, but it somehow added to the overall effect. The best part, however, is the bit you can't really see clearly because I was not focused on it when I took the picture. When we walked past him I saw it, and did a bit of a double-take.


This picture is not clear, but at least you can see the shape of possibly the strangest bag I have ever seen. The bag is frog-shaped, and looked horribly as if it was made from a real frog, although as I went past I noticed it had a zipper in the back of its head. I'm fairly sure real frogs don't have zippers. My friend also noticed that it had teeth. Do frogs have teeth? When we thought about it, we realized neither of us knew.

I also got a picture of an old couple I have seen before. These two always carry brooms, and have something to do with Japanese folklore. The Man's memory failed him when I asked. The answer was on the tip of his tongue, but he wouldn't let me hit him on the back of the head to pop it out. The old couple will remain a mystery unless he suddenly remembers, or one of my readers knows who they are.


This next picture is of a sort of plaque advertising Fususuke Tabi, a sock company. Fukusuke is the merchant god of prosperity, and the company takes its name from that. This plaque is old enough that the writing reads from right to left instead of left to right. I'm not sure when it changed, but I'm fairly sure it was before the war. The company is still around. These days they make ordinary socks rather than (or as well as) tabi.


I also found a rather discouraged Buddha. If I grew hair on my belly I'd probably be discouraged, too.


And finally, here is a head, because no flea market post would be complete without a photograph of a head.

Flea market

It was flea market day today, at Shi-Tennoji in Osaka. The weather was gorgeous, and the turtles seemed to be enjoying the sun.


I thought this warrior was rather graceful, despite his lack of hands.


These two have been placed in a beer crate, probably for misbehaving.


Somebody had spun the prayer wheel at the gate, but I didn't see who. It just kept spinning. I suppose it must be a very well-oiled prayer wheel. (Or maybe it has batteries?)


I haven't finished going through my photos yet but it's past bedtime, so that's all for now.

Christmas flea market

The flea market was fun, as usual, and as usual I did not buy much. But I did take some photos. Heads and dolls seem to feature rather too much, like last year, but those were the most photogenic bits.

There were heads on sticks, again.


This is Daruma. I think he has been smoking something funny.

One of these dolls looked very familiar. Can you still get them in NZ? I hadn't seen one since I was a child.

Junk.

The Tengu has a very rude nose.

These are Ainu dolls. They are cheap souvenirs, but photograph well.

More dolls . . .

A tent full of kimonos . . .

Yet more dolls . . .

There was a fabulous amount of junk.

This exhibit was not for sale.

Happy Boxing Day!

Look Ma, no hands!

All he needs is heels

Happy

It's the 21st! Flea market day!