Editor’s Note
This article highlights a major charity event in Tokyo that blends commerce with philanthropy, offering a unique glimpse into Japan’s market for high-value secondhand goods.
The “89th Shichichiya’s Charity Fair,” organized by the Jonan Pawnbroker and Secondhand Goods Dealers Association (Ota Ward, Tokyo), was held from June 6th to 8th at the Tokyo Distribution Center on Heiwajima. This event is one of Japan’s largest sales of pawned goods, featuring approximately 70,000 items including brand-name bags, watches, jewelry, and precious metals. Since last year, Sofmap has also participated, setting up a small electronics corner.
A major draw was the Louis Vuitton bags, which accounted for about 60% of the items. A large number of people from both within Japan and abroad visited, aiming for the so-called “mountain of Vuitton” piled high. A feature of this year’s event was the establishment of a special Louis Vuitton sales area on the first day. Louis Vuitton bags were densely displayed in a vast space of approximately 600 tsubo (about 1,980 square meters), 1.5 times larger than usual. Attendees shopped while circling the area in search of their desired Louis Vuitton items.