Vol. 2: Vintage Lace from “Mindbenders & Classics” and Elevator YNK’s “Little Happiness Notebook”

YNKs小さな幸せ帖

2026.08.27

久万田萌

編集者（OZmagazine編集長）

Oz Magazine, a bimonthly publication, is based on the concept, “If you look up as you walk through the city, you’ll find little moments of happiness all around,” and each issue delivers information on city walks designed to help you have a “great day.”In this series, the editor-in-chief of Oz Magazine—who walks the streets daily in search of small joys—writes about the “small joys” she has discovered in her hometown of Yaesu, Nihonbashi, and Kyobashi, where the magazine’s office has been located for many years.

The moments when we feel “small joys” vary from person to person.

Some people find that joy in an exceptionally delicious French meal, while others are delighted by something as simple as a cloud shaped like a dog.

As for me, I’m incredibly drawn to old things and people. I respect—or perhaps envy?—older people who lived through eras I don’t know, and I’m captivated just by looking at architecture that reflects the ideas and techniques of our predecessors, meticulous craftsmanship that evokes a bygone era, and even the smallest scraps of paper.

I think it was around 2018. One day, while wandering aimlessly through Kyobashi, I spotted a shop in an old building that looked really charming.I peeked inside the building a bit and saw a manual elevator. There are plenty of old things in the area between Kyobashi and Nihonbashi—known as “Antique Street”—where antique and fine art dealers gather, but it was the first time I’d ever seen a manual elevator. Filled with excitement, I opened the heavy door by myself and took the elevator up to the shop on the top floor.

An elevator that you enter by opening double manual doors, like those found in department stores

From the top floor of the elevator, I took the stairs up one more floor. There, I found “Mindbenders & Classics,” a space that felt just like a little cottage in France.Hidden among the many vintage clothes and old trinkets was the shop owner, Ms. Yokomi, who greeted me with a gentle smile. I remember how pleasant it was when she took the time to talk to me—even though I’d just wandered in on a whim—about French craftsmanship. As I began writing this series on small joys, I decided to revisit the shop, which is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year.

When you climb the stairs, a whole new world opens up

“Mindbenders & Classics” is run by husband and wife Hiroshi and Sayoko Yokomi. It all began when Sayoko visited London’s Portobello Antique Market on a trip, was struck by its charm, and decided she wanted to work there.

Shop Owner Sayoko Yokomi

“I didn’t even have a job lined up, but I just really liked the place, so I went to London on a whim. I handed out a bunch of resumes directly at local markets.”

Sayoko chuckled as she said this. She spoke in a calm tone about her bold actions—ones you’d never imagine coming from the cheerful woman sitting right in front of you.While training for about two years under a dealer at the Portobello Antique Market, she met Hiroshi, a music lover, at a local language school. She then gathered merchandise there with the intention of returning to Japan to open her own shop.

“In the UK, flea markets have long been a part of everyday life. Unlike Japan’s climate, Europe has lower humidity, so old clothes tend to last longer. You’ll even see young people selling items they inherited from their great-grandmothers, saying things like, ‘This belonged to my great-grandmother, so it’s from the early 1900s.’Not only is the environment appealing, but the culture itself is truly fascinating. I spent a lot of time visiting those markets and bought quite a few items before returning to Japan.”

After returning to Japan, the couple first looked for a property in western Tokyo to open their store. They searched in areas known for their many clothing shops, such as Daikanyama, but couldn’t seem to find the right fit. It was during that time that they were introduced to this building.

“From the very first time I saw it, I really fell in love with the elevator (laughs). It’s a building constructed in the 1960s with this manual elevator, and the atmosphere on the top floor is just perfect. People often ask me, ‘In a neighborhood with so many workers?’ but I just fell head over heels for this elevator.”

I’d always wondered why this store was located in Kyobashi, but the reason turned out to be quite simple. As expected of Sayoko—who moved to London simply because she wanted to work there—her love for elevators was reason enough to open a store in this neighborhood full of office workers.

A space that’s half indoors and half outdoors, with lots of clothes lined up under the tent

The items currently on display at “Mindbenders & Classics” are pieces I source two or three times a year in France, tracking down items through my close contacts. Many date from the 1900s to the 1930s, ranging from as far back as the 18th century to as recently as around 1960—everyday and work clothes from 50 to 100 years ago.

“At first, I used to collect antiques at markets in London and places like that. But gradually, my interest shifted to items lying dormant in the French countryside.Even stained work clothes unearthed from the back of a rural barn have such a truly minimalist design. More than 20 years ago, there weren’t as many people seeking out European antiques and vintage items as there are now, but recently they’ve become so popular that supply can’t keep up with demand. It’s really hard to find them these days.”

Delicate detachable collars and fabrics once used for embroidery practice in France

Faux collars and lace suspended from the ceiling flutter gently. From floor to ceiling, the store is filled with endless excitement. You can sense the delicate craftsmanship of people who lived in France’s bygone era, as well as their meticulous attention to each individual item and the spirit that carries that legacy forward.

“You can really tell that these were cherished and worn with care, can’t you? The lace, for example, has been mended by hand using surprisingly fine thread, which gives a glimpse into the high level of craftsmanship of people from that era. There are also many pieces of fabric left over from embroidery practice. I love items like these because they convey a sense of taking time to cherish things and passing them down to one’s children—that kind of heartfelt sentiment is truly beautiful.”

If you look closely, you’ll see lace scarves and cotton skirts that have been mended with fine thread

When you step into “Mindbenders & Classics,” your heart immediately leaps at the sight of so many vintage items. You’ll want to start browsing the merchandise from one end to the other. But the more you look at each item, the more you’ll be moved by the history embedded in them and the dedication to cherishing and using a single item for years to come.

And the more you listen to the stories behind them, the more you’ll sense not only the charm of each item but also that of Sayoko herself.Is it something I like, or something that moves my heart? Sayoko has a very simple approach to life and a straightforward perspective.

While I was out reporting, I spotted a lovely corset cover. I got caught secretly checking the price.

“At first, I liked the elevator and decided to open a store in Kyobashi. Since opening in 2007, we’ve weathered the earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic, and somehow managed to keep going for 19 years. Lately, we’ve had people who love vintage items find us through social media and come specifically to visit the store, and thanks to them, we’ve also gained many repeat customers. We’ve seen an increase in international visitors, too.”

She carefully explained how the beautiful lace blouse was made.

“I really like this area,” says Sayoko, “even though it’s a business district, there are a lot of old buildings here.” When asked about her goals for her 20th year in business, she smiled and said, “I’d like to just keep going exactly as I am now. After all, I love both the products I sell and this location. Finding things I love and bringing them to people—as long as this wonderful elevator is still here, I’ll stay right here.”

A cash register surrounded by things she loves. This place really suits Sayoko.

I’ve always felt that life is short. The older I get, the more things I want to do, yet the things I have to do just to get by never seem to end. The more I learn, the more interesting the world becomes, but in a single lifetime, I can experience only a tiny fraction of it.

I’m sure there are just too many ways to learn things these days. It feels like technological progress has outpaced the speed of human biological evolution, and we simply can’t keep up. I, in particular, feel like I’m being left far behind. Even though I’m the type of person who’s better suited to threading a needle with fine thread and taking my time to sew lace, it’s a problem because I love learning new things and having new experiences.

I actually went shopping.

When you’re swamped with the daily grind, you lose sight of what you really want to do. It feels like you’re not grounded—like you’re constantly floating through life. And that, at times, brings on intense anxiety.

But fortunately, there’s a place in the city where I work that’s so refreshingly straightforward.Located right in the heart of Kyobashi—a hub teeming with busy workers and international tourists—“Mindbenders & Classics” reminds me to never lose sight of what I truly love. It reminds me of the importance of continuing to engage with the things I love.

Precisely because life is short, I want to spend even a little more time focusing on and savoring the things I truly love. When daily life feels suffocating, when I’m exhausted from too many tasks, or when I’m unsure about the future, I want to come here—to this shop run by Mr. Yokomi, who continues to make simple choices as if he were living in France 100 years ago, riding up in an old elevator that feels just like a time machine.

Mindbenders & Classics

Address: 6F Nakadori Building, 2-6-8 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Hours: 2:00 PM–5:00 PM (until 6:00 PM on Saturdays)

Closed: Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Mindbenders & Classics Official Website

Mindbenders & Classics Official Instagram

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