A Tokyo vintage shop, “Pass the Baton” 

“ this vintage shop promotes a new idea of recycling : pass on things that you truly love. 

the idea is that if an object is used and not needed anymore, people can pass it along without making new goods 
(and potential waste). so that each new owner can create their own new memories. 
‘pass the baton’ is a new personal culture marketplace in japan, a country where the idea of buying used items is 
not really appreciated. this could change quickly, the bricks-and-mortar flagship store in the center of tokyo  
offers buyers and sellers a fashionable forum for exchange. as a member of the ‘pass the baton’ initiative, 
people can sell as simply as one would at a flea market, but with the added dimension of optioning proceeds to charity.
50% of the proceedings are distributed to the seller. the seller will then contribute a part or all of proceeds to one of 
several social action groups through the non-profit organization charity platform (NPO).

‘pass the baton’ is the brainchild of masamichi toyama, soup stock entrepreneur, a well-known chain of soup kitchens 
across tokyo. he is known for being a keen businessman as well as an artist (he took charge of the art direction for his stores) 
and will soon be opening his 35th store. the pass the baton stores in the omotesando and marunouchi area have been 

designed by masamichi katayama of wonderwall.”

via designboom