Occasionally, things I’d forgotten about catch my attention. They aren’t items I want for the future, but rather things I’ve already purchased, yet never used, and are fading from memory. My wife, unaware of their value, dismisses them with a weary look, saying, “More dirty trash has accumulated!” But when I examine each one closely, many turn out to be quite valuable vintage pieces, making them difficult to discard.

I’ve lived in America for eight years. During that time, I’ve published ten books, and in proportion, a considerable amount of “trash” has piled up in my study, garage, car, and even at my parents’ home in Japan. Well, the late Andy Warhol himself did exactly the same thing, so I interpret “creators as collectors of trash.”

In early August, I flew to Nashville, Tennessee. I rented a car and embarked on a two-week “trash-collecting trip.” I fly somewhere to shoot photos once a month, but this trip to Nashville held no special significance. I happened to be searching for a book in my study when I discovered a poster of Roy Buchanan, my favorite guitarist (an original from the 70s!), and suddenly felt an urge to go to Nashville.

The World’s Longest Yard Sale

Nashville was the home base for Roy Buchanan during his lifetime, and it continues to attract incredibly skilled musicians. Regardless of genre preference, if you want to meet music lovers, Nashville or Austin, Texas, are indeed the best places.

However, the day after arriving in Nashville, I drove my car towards the neighboring state of Kentucky, which was not part of my original plan. I remembered the famous event called the “127 Yard Sale”! It’s a massive yard sale held once a year by residents along U.S. Route 127. As it spans four states—Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama—it’s called the “World’s Longest Yard Sale.” Naturally, as a collector of trash, my heart swelled with anticipation.

(to be continued)