Your trash is someone's treasure

From the Virgin Mary in a grilled cheese sandwich to Jesus in an oyster, I always enjoy the crazy things on eBay.

In Japan, Yahoo Japan is the biggest auction site (not eBay), and it is much easier to use and cheaper than eBay in the U.S. (I tried both, so I know.) This weekend I put a candy can up on Yahoo Japan, with a starting bid of 100 yen. It’s just a dirty old can that I have used to hold paper clips since 1975. I thought I should throw it away, but then I wondered if some Snoopy collector somewhere might want it. One person has already bid on it.

People in Japan have changed their attitude towards old stuff, because we’ve come to realize that everything may have some value for someone. Something that is trash to me might be a treasure to others. We learned this from Yahoo auction and a TV program called Nandemo Kantedan.

The rules of Nandemo Kantedan, which came on the air 10 years ago, are simple — guests bring items from their homes, and the show introduces them with details about their backgrounds. The guests declare how much they think their particular item is worth, and then professional appraisers reveal the real value and history of each item. This show still enjoys high ratings and actually has fueled a major antique boom in Japan.

A variety of different things have been brought in to the show. Many people bring Japanese antiques like ceramics, jars, paintings, or calligraphic writing. They often believe they own something created by a famous artist, but in many cases they are sad to be told it is just a copy or fake. But of course it is fun to watch when the owner guesses a value of 3 million yen, only to find out the real value of their treasure is closer to 5,000 yen!
One person brought in an old toy that he played with when he was kid. He had left it in the closet for many years, and guessed it would be worthless. The appraisers valued it at 1 million yen!

Thanks to this show, we have learned that original packaging makes a big difference in the value, and that even an old, dirty stuffed animal is highly valued if it is a Steiff bear. Even an old train ticket, chopstick bag, or bento wrapping paper has value for collectors. Because of this show, people have started looking for old things and checking the manufacturer or signature of items more closely. To be honest with you, even my dad checked the signature of a painting that has hung in the entrance of our home for more than 30 years!

Here is the show’s archive page were you can check out some of the items they have featured. Items include a fish print by baseball great Ichiro, and Godzilla’s foot!

Sometimes guests come onto the show from other countries. A guy from the U.S. brought this dress, which Marylin Monroe wore in the movie The Seven Year Itch. The professional appraiser said the value price was 200 milion yen. Sometimes the show goes abroad in search of treasures. Here is an article about the show going to the U.S. to appraise Douglas MacArthur’s Eastern artifacts.

Comments

[Mari]

Hi there
Antique Road Show?! Ah I think I have seen BBC one before. But all items was expensive and people were happy to know the price. In Nandemo Kanteidan half peope have to be disappointed to know the real value. Some get to angry and doesn't trust the professional appraiser's words.

[abraxis]

Godzilla's foot!

I cliked on the link and expected to see trains!

ha ha

[Charles]

Yeah, I am addicted to the Antiques Roadshow, but I like the original BBC version better than the American version, because European antiques are much older and have more variety than American antiques.

[I am Dali]

we have the same craze in america.

a few years ago, everyone was getting addicted to this show called "Antique Road Show." people would bring their mysterious junk for appraisal, and many times it would be very surprisingly VALUABLE.

most people who saw the show on their TV couldn't stop watching it. i think because the histories (told by experts) of the items are so interesting, but also because of the SUSPENSE of wondering whether the person's item was TRASH or TREASURE.

it was great. i don't know if it's on anymore.

now if i turned the ocean into cold stone creamery ice cream, would it be trash or treasure, i don't know. but first, i need a huge vat. and body heat. which i have.