Tomoaki Shimizu, a fashion journalist active in magazines and newspapers, including FASHION HEADLINE, is a Parisian vintage specialist known for his blog "Tomo-kun's Paris Flea Market Stroll" and book "A Stroll Through Parisian Vintage Fashion." About 20 years ago, as a fashion student, he began visiting flea markets to find fashion ideas, and now he sometimes visits them five days a week. His vintage items, selected with a discerning eye and unique sensibilities cultivated over many years of experience, are also available in Japan, and his pop-up shops across the country are always a huge success. Many fans eagerly await each visit. In this article, I accompanied Shimizu on his flea market stroll (purchasing) and shared a behind-the-scenes report on his vintage world. On the day of the interview, we met at Parc Monceau in Paris's 8th arrondissement at 9:30 AM. From there, we walked about five minutes to our meeting point on Rue des Traitors, where Shimizu and I were to meet. This flea market, held in an upscale residential area, is characterized by the lack of professionals and the large number of stalls run by local residents. "Rather than a flea market, it's more like a bazaar run by local residents," Shimizu says. Anything is allowed to be sold except for food. "Because it's a wealthy area, there's a good chance of finding something good," Shimizu adds.

A wide variety of items are on display, from old snapshots presumably taken by ancestors to toys children used to play with and furniture. A fishmonger's shopfront was selling fish-shaped pottery and plates that were once used in the store. A shop selling interior goods also sold designer lamps from the 1950s to Japanese vintage shops. Shimizu discovered a collector's item, a mushroom canister. He also purchased an enamel pitcher and lace.

Next, we headed to Champigny-sur-Marne Market. It's a massive market with over 2,000 stalls, held once a month. Locals and antique dealers line the lawns. Here, we browsed mainly for tableware from the 18th to early 20th centuries. There were also many stores selling new household items like detergents and sneakers, so it was easy to pass them by without even thinking about it. But even in the corners of these stores, you'll find hidden antique treasures.

Next, we headed to Montreuil. Montreuil, a short metro ride from Paris, has recently become popular among creatives. With an increasing number of people moving to avoid rising real estate prices in Paris, the area is said to be similar to Brooklyn in New York.

Croix de Chavaux is a flea market located in the downtown area near Montreuil Station. Apparently, it was originally a thieves' market, giving it a junk market feel. But Shimizu, a true professional, discovered a Steiff teddy bear among a pile of toys. Strolling through the flea market truly feels like a treasure hunt.

A little way from Montreuil Station, we visited a flea market in a residential area. It also had a bazaar-like atmosphere, with many local residents setting up stalls. We arrived for our interview near evening, just before the shops closed. This is a perfect time to find leftovers and bargains.

Finally, we visited a special flea market organized by Emmaus in the square in front of Montreuil Station. Emmaus, a charity founded by Father Pierre to help the homeless, operates shops in Paris selling secondhand clothing and everyday items. In the suburbs, they also sell furniture, and hold furniture markets like this one. Chandeliers, sofas, and more start at 10,000 yen. Perhaps because it's held irregularly, customers were eager to seize the opportunity.

When we lined up the items collected from the five flea markets, a beautiful "Tomo-kun World" was born. These items are lovingly cared for in Shimizu's home before being shipped to Japan.

In the second part, we will ask Shimizu about the appeal of strolling through a flea market and the rules you should know before going out.