Ichigo Ichie 2026—Japanese Antiques & Vintage Market

Market

Ichigo Ichie — Once in a Lifetime

Japanese Antiques & Vintage, Gathered Through Time

2026.August 06 — August 16

Journal No. 2

一期一会、時を重ねて

Written & Photographed by Natsumi Akatsuka

Founder & Director, ITSUMO

Our annual **Ichigo Ichie—Antique & Vintage Market** returns this August for its fourth edition.
*Ichigo ichie* (一期一会) is a Japanese expression that reminds us to treasure each encounter as something that may never happen again. It is a philosophy that has quietly shaped the way I travel, collect, and think about the objects that pass through my hands.
Each year, I journey through different regions of Japan, returning to familiar places while discovering others for the first time. The changing seasons, the rhythms of everyday life, traditions cultivated over generations, and even the scent of the air continue to shape the way I see.

I am drawn to objects that carry a quiet presence—pieces that speak of the people who made them, the homes they once belonged to, and the lives they quietly accompanied. Collecting them has become my way of translating feelings that I often cannot express in words.
As summer approaches, I find myself looking forward to *Ichigo Ichie* once again. Seeing the collection slowly take shape has become part of my own seasonal rhythm—a quiet ritual that returns each year. This market is an extension of those journeys, and of the memories and moments gathered along the way.

Gathered throughout Japan, this year's collection includes antique and vintage ceramics, lacquerware, textiles, baskets, wooden objects, and other one-of-a-kind treasures. Each piece has lived a life before arriving here, bearing the gentle marks of time and the quiet beauty that comes from years of everyday use.
From the moment of discovery to finding a new home, a renewed purpose, and eventually being passed on once again, every object continues its story. We are simply one part of its journey.

The photographs throughout this journal were taken during my travels across Japan over the years, alongside moments from past *Ichigo Ichie* gatherings. Together, they offer a glimpse into the places, seasons, and encounters that continue to inspire this annual market.
We invite you to take your time, wander through the collection, and perhaps discover a piece whose story will continue with you.

With gratitude,

Natsumi Akatsuka