Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2011

There is certainly no shortage of second-hand shops in Tokyo, but unlike the bargain-priced, charity-focused shops like the Salvation Army stores back home, they are generally for-profit boutiques for used brand-name goods. Now, though, Oxfam Japan is taking an idea from their sister organization in the UK and opening up two temporary charity shops in Kichijoji and Shimokitazawa. The stores will offer items donated by the public, fair-trade products and Oxfam merchandise, with all profits going to support their efforts to fight poverty. They are also selling eco bags made by women in Fukushima, with those proceeds going back to the makers. If your New Year’s resolution is to get rid of clutter, both stores and the Oxfam head office in Shinjuku will be accepting donations during opening hours. And you might as well bring that otoshidama, because you never know what bargains you might find.

Shimokitazawa: 11am–8pm, until Jan 29. Toyo Hyakkaten, 25-8 Kitazawa 2-chome, Setagaya-ku. Nearest stn: Shimokitazawa. www.k-toyo.jp
Kichijoji: 10am-9pm, until Feb 12. 2F Coppice Kichijoji bldg. A, 1-11-5 Kichijoji Honmachi, Musashino-shi. Nearest stn: Kichijoji. www.coppice.jp

A Non-Nuclear World

Since the disaster in Fukushima, there’s been an increased interest in non-nuclear energy production. If you’d like to find out more, or if you’ve got an idea for natural energy production, you may want to head over to Yokohama and take part in the Global Conference for a Nuclear Power Free World. In addition to official sessions and discussions, the organizers are also recruiting volunteers in Japan and abroad to hold self-organized events for the exchange of practical information.

Jan 14-15. Pacific Convention Plaza Yokohama, 1-1-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama. Nearest stn: Minato Mirai. www.npfree.jp