Step Inside One of the Oldest Second-Hand Stores in Japan
Searching for cool, second-hand stores in Tokyo? SEKINE is a luxury vintage boutique with over 80 years of history in the industry.
We provide high-end, designer products that have been expertly verified and meticulously restored to meet the highest quality standards for the best possible price.
Our Story
Mr. Kazuyuki Sekine (left) and Mr. Shunji Sekine (right) have been managing and operating their business in the pre-owned luxury goods market. This journey began in 1942 when Mr. Shimaji Sekine opened his first pawnshop in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.
He was keen to serve his local community by providing short-term loans in exchange for personal possessions of monetary value, giving people an easy way to make cash when they needed it.
tsp_aboutOver the years, SEKINE has become synonymous with quality and customer service, earning a reputation as one of the most reputable second-hand stores in Tokyo. It has been passed down through the generations and is now managed by brothers Mr. Kazuyuki Sekine and Mr. Shunji Sekine. Today, our flagship Ikebukuro West Gate Store still stands in the same location it has been for 60 years, a testament to our commitment to quality trust, and exceptional attention to detail we provide. We also operate an additional store in Shinjuku, alongside a much smaller outlet in Shibuya.
Our Leadership Team
We believe in leading by example, which is why our senior directors from the company’s founding family both hold advanced jewellery identification qualifications. Here you can find out a little bit more about how they earned their qualifications.
Mr. Kazuyuki Sekine
Before becoming a part of the family business, Mr. Kazuyuki Sekine worked for 10 years at one of Japan’s megabanks, including two years spent at the U.S. headquarters. After becoming a Certified Gemmologist of Japan (CGJ), he has worked hard to learn the industry inside out and now serves as a director of the prestigious Japan Gem Society.
Mr. Kazuyuki Sekine assumed the role of CEO at SEKINE in 2006.
Mr. Shunji Sekine
Mr. Shunji Sekine learnt the intricacies of the industry while working at a major Japanese jewellery company, where he served as a sales representative for leading jewellery stores in Japan.
He joined SEKINE in 2004 and was promoted to Senior Managing Director in 2006. Mr. Shunji Sekine holds qualifications as both a Certified Gemmologist of Japan (CGJ) and a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA).
The History of Second-Hand Stores in Japan
Second-hand stores in Japan are unlike the typical thrift stores you might find elsewhere in the world.
Originally known as shichiya in Japan, pawnshops can be traced back to the Kamakura period, as early as 1185–1333. It was during this time that the country first began to use money as currency, replacing the previous, barter-based economy.
Pawnshops started popping up as a way for people to replace their possessions for cash, a concept which soon became widespread and even inspired a popular saying; ‘pawnshops for the common folk’.
Traditionally, pawnshops displayed a distinctive symbol to help people find them, with a character that stood for the word ‘quality’. As Japan experienced rapid economic growth during the 1960s, pawnshops began dealing in more luxury items, moving from TVs and household appliances to precious metals, jewellery, art and antiques. Nowadays, pawnshops and second-hand stores in Japan leverage their reputation for quality to engage in the buying, brokering, and selling of luxury goods. The presence of these stores has also cemented Japan’s reputation as a country with a focus on crafting a sustainable, circular economy – with attention to detail and quality. All of this is embodied in the heart and philosophy of SEKINE, a heritage Japanese company which still engages in pawnbroking to serve the needs of the community. Meanwhile, we also supply both locals and tourists with a luxurious emporium of high-grade second-hand goods, saving unnecessary consumer waste while reducing the cost of buying designer.