The person reading this article now is also receiving information digitally, but there must be another vector of interest that is unique to the print media. Among such paper media, zines are an independent medium that directly expresses the creator's world with a high degree of purity. As long as the simple rule of "printing on paper" is followed, the rest is free. Flotsam Books" holds the "flotsam zine tour" once a year under the theme of such a medium. This year marks the third time, with a total of more than 150 groups participating. The tour has grown to a scale of 12 stops throughout Japan over a period of about three months. The tour, where you can see, touch, and feel zines overflowing with individuality, is about to turn the corner. Take a peek at the first day of the tour and enjoy the "flotsam zine tour" near your city.
Photo_CAYO IMAEDA
Text_Yusuke Suzuki
PROFILE
It is about an 8-10 minute walk from Daitabashi Station on the Keio Line connecting Shinjuku and Hachioji. Originally started by Takayuki Kobayashi as an online art bookstore, the physical store opened on January 11, 2020 at the current location. 6 tatami mats in size, the store only sells J-POP from the 1990s to the early 2000s, and has a collection of fashion and art-related photo books from around the world, as well as used books and zines, both famous and unknown, The store is 6 tatami in size, and is filled with fashion and art photo books from all over the world, as well as secondhand books and zines from famous and unknown authors. The store also features one-of-a-kind exhibits by artists and writers, which are held on an irregular basis and offer a glimpse into the relationship between the owner and the customers.
Instagram:@flotsambooks
There are only 3 conditions for participation. We will travel to 10 cities & 12 locations across the country.
The conditions for participating in the "flotsam zine tour" are simple: the zine must be produced within a year, the sales price must be within ¥3,000, and the size must fit into a letterpack. The high degree of freedom and fairness seems to be linked to the essence of zines.
This year's event, the third in the series, will tour 10 cities and 12 locations in Japan, including three in Tokyo, Ibaraki, Kobe, Sendai, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Osaka, over a period of about three months. The first attempt to show respect for the local community, such as by offering a limited number of participants in each area to those who live in that city, is also not to be missed.
A handmade sign drawn with a magic marker on cardboard, and on the glass next to the entrance with masking tape, the DIY and rough atmosphere allows visitors to relax and enjoy each zine without feeling self-conscious.
-Tour Schedule
June 7, 2024 ( Fri ) - 9, 2024 ( Sun ): flotsam books( Tokyo )
2June 16 (Sun) - 20 (Thu), 024: Dekay (Tokyo)
2June 22, 024 ( Sat ) and 23, ( Sun ): Staple coffee( Ibaraki )
2June 29, 024 ( Sat ) and June 30, 024 ( Sun ): Mukta ( Kobe )
July 6 (Sat.) & 7 (Sun.), 2024: Colloquium (Sendai)
July 13 (Sat.) & 14 (Sun.), 2024: kivi (Kyoto)
July 20 (Sat.) and 21 (Sun.), 2024 READAN DEAT (Hiroshima)
July 27 (Sat.) & 28 (Sun.), 2024: IACK (Kanazawa)
August 2 (Fri.) - 4 (Sun.), 2024: C7C gallery and shop (Nagoya)
August 17 (Sat.) - 19 (Mon.), 2024: LIBRIS KOBACO (Fukuoka)
August 24 (Sat) - September 2 (Mon), 2024: 229 (Tokyo)
September 6 (Fri.)-8 (Sun.), 2024: ISEEALL (Osaka)
When we visited the first day of the tour, which started at "flotsam books," there were many visitors even though it was before evening on a weekday. For the "flotsam zine tour," the store was rearranged to make more than half of the space for zines, taking down the books normally placed there. Just looking at the covers of the zines on the walls and shelves, the individuality of the creators can be felt, and visitors are free to pick up one book at a time, which naturally increases the tension as they turn the pages.
As if in sync with the lineup of zines, the customers who visited the store were of different generations and occupations. We were curious to know what kind of people purchased what kind of zines, so we approached four customers and asked them to tell us a little about their purchases.
I also take photographs, so I bought one book that was close to what I wanted to do, that would give me a hint for creating a zine."
I love Iayslielie's world view, it's so cute! Please check it out!
I like Ryu Ika, and I came to Flotsam Books for the first time today because I saw on SNS that he was selling his zines here.
HOUYHNHNM, I always watch you. Today I was able to buy the zine I wanted and see many other things, so it was a lot of fun."
The beauty of a zine is that it doesn't matter if it's appropriate. I just want to introduce new and interesting things.
Why ZINE in the first place? How do you think about the past and the future? We spoke with Takayuki Kobayashi, owner of Flotsam Books, about these questions and more.
Takayuki Kobayashi, owner of Flotsam Books
-This year, about 150 groups participated, but wasn't it very fast from the time the applications started on social networking sites until the slots were filled?
Takayuki Kobayashi(Kobayashi): This time, it took about two hours from the start of the application process to the time we received the 150 entries. We had created an application form and asked people to submit their applications.
-What is the ratio of those who participate in the zine tour, whether they make the zines for the tour or send in their original works for presentation?
KobayashiI am not sure, but I would say that about 40% of the materials were newly created and about 60% were originally created.
I also thought that there were many people who wanted to have their books properly printed and bound by a printing company.
-I think that's great, because I think that they are all made by individuals. It's an old-fashioned way of thinking and contradicts the freedom of zines, but I thought there were a lot of things that were printed out on copy machines.
KobayashiThe "Made in Japan" style is both made up and rough, so it reflects your individuality in that respect as well.
-This is a simple and fair format, with free participation, no judging, and first-come-first-served basis, but conversely, it means that any work can participate as long as the rules are followed.
KobayashiIf we said, for example, "The participation fee is ¥1,000 from this year, and there will be a screening process," I think the participants would be completely different from before.
I still think I like interesting works, whether they are famous or unknown.
After I turned 40, I began to think that it is not enough if I am good enough, but if I can do something for the people around me, that is what I can do.
-Why didn't you choose the Grand Prix this time?
KobayashiI asked Mayumi Hosokura (photographer) and Yumiko Oochi (president of the publishing label "MARGINAL PRESS") to serve as special judges, and they said, "There's no way to compare them.
Some are made like magazines, some are complete works in one volume, and some are just stapled together, but each has its own merits. But each one has its own merits. I thought it would be better not to say, "This is the best one! So we decided not to award the Grand Prix this time.
-The participants do not want to be selected for the Grand Prix or to be the best, they just want to make a zine so that someone can look at it.
KobayashiYes, that's right. There are two types of people: those who want to step up, and those who just want to express themselves and call it a one-time event. So, since I have my own store, I would like to ask for an exhibition, or something like that.
-By the way, are there any zines that you approached in that way this time?
Kobayashi: There was, wasn't there? I would take a photo, pull out the striking shapes in the photo, and put them on the next page. That eventually became a poem, or rather, a sentence.
"Would you like to exhibit at our place?" I would ask something like that.
-It's amazing. ......
KobayashiI feel like a writer already. (At the ZINE TOUR) It sold quite quickly.
-When I visited you on the first day of the ZINE TOUR, I was very impressed by the large number of visitors even though it was a weekday evening. 150 groups filled up in 2 hours and many people came from the first day. Do you feel that you have become a fixture in the market?
KobayashiNo: No, it was more like it didn't take hold unexpectedly. In terms of attracting customers, of course many people came, but there were also times when there was suddenly no time to do anything.
-That is surprising. There are many zines that are not sold on the Internet and are not introduced on SNS, and we don't even know who makes them in the first place.
KobayashiI think it's important to make the ZINE TOUR more known to the public. So I think it is important to approach people in various ways and let them know more about the ZINE TOUR.
-We will have 150 zines sent to us at a time, and the artists will decide the price and sell them on consignment. It seems to be very difficult to manage such a large number of zines, and to contact the artists during the exhibition to ask them to add the zines that have sold out.
KobayashiIt's true that it's hard work, but that's the beauty of our company.
-I think every genre has its own trends, big or small. For example, in photography, film was very popular a few years ago.
KobayashiI feel that many of the photos now look like they were taken with a camera with the pixel count of a "Cyber-shot" (*Sony digital camera) from the late 1990s or early 2000s, the early days when digital cameras began to emerge. This is just a vague impression, though.
-Which age groups and regions are most likely to participate?
KobayashiI don't think there were any in their 60s. The areas were overwhelmingly urban, especially Tokyo. Next were Osaka, Kyoto, and Kanagawa.
-I had imagined that more people would come from all over the country.
KobayashiSo, from this year, we have prepared quotas for people who live in the 10 cities where we will tour, although they are not local quotas. We want the local people to participate and be excited about the event.
What is the ratio between online and brick-and-mortar store sales?
KobayashiWe have been able to communicate this culture through zines and other means. We have not had many shoppers from the Shikoku and Chugoku regions so far, and we hope to convey this culture to those areas through zines and other means.
-How did you decide on the locations for the 12 stops in 10 cities this time?
KobayashiThe first location was requested after we were approached by a client who wanted to do it. We had not done anything in western Japan in the past, so we consulted with our acquaintances and asked them to recommend a good location, and when we made an offer, everyone readily agreed.
I can't go to all of them myself because of the stores, but I've never been to Hokkaido, and there are still other places I would like to visit. First of all, please visit a venue near you.
