In Kojima, Kurashiki City, there is a quiet shop selling miscellaneous goods near Kohachiman Shrine.
This is “ZAKKA MOKO,” which celebrated its 5th anniversary in 2022.
The charm of the shop lies in its selection of handmade goods, each unique.
Many visitors come to ZAKKA MOKO not only to find items for themselves but also to search for gifts for their loved ones.
Customers all say, “If you go to MOKO, you will find something.”
This is an introduction to ZAKKA MOKO, where you can encounter “goods that can only be found here” in Okayama.
What is ZAKKA MOKO
ZAKKA MOKO is a shop that opened in 2017.
The variety of handmade goods and the warm personality of the owner, Noriko Tomioka, charm customers, and it celebrated its 5th anniversary in 2022.
The sales space for miscellaneous goods is on the second floor of the building.
You can see the shop a little further down the hallway.
The front area is the permanent space, while the back is the special exhibition space.
The main items for sale are accessories such as earrings and ear clips.
In addition, they sell tableware, stationery, and clothing (for children and women), so even though it is called “miscellaneous goods,” the range is quite broad.
Moreover, it is not just the goods that are appealing; the natural atmosphere of the space itself is also a charm.
With white walls, furniture that evokes a sense of nostalgia, and wood suspended from the ceiling as a substitute for a hanger, it is a space that makes you want to take in the whole shop.
Depending on the time of day, sunlight streams in, making the space even more comfortable with its softness and natural light.
This is a shop that pays attention to the space itself so that customers can carefully look at the carefully crafted goods one by one.
Features of ZAKKA MOKO
The concept is “A Place Where People, Things, and Thoughts Gather.”
It is a place where the owner, Tomioka, artists, and customers can meet.
ZAKKA MOKO has several features.
Miscellaneous Goods
The miscellaneous goods handled at ZAKKA MOKO are all handmade.
The standard for items in the shop is that they are goods that Tomioka thinks are “good.”
It seems that Tomioka is moved by “things that can only be made by that person.”
“We gather many works that are not just assembled from sold parts, but are made with original designs from materials and molds,”
The characteristic of ZAKKA MOKO is that you can encounter unique miscellaneous goods while feeling the warmth of handmade items.
Most Artists Live Outside Okayama Prefecture
At ZAKKA MOKO, there are about 20 artists regularly and about 5 to 10 artists for special exhibitions whose goods are handled.
Tomioka's commitment is to source 80 to 90 percent of the works from artists living outside Okayama Prefecture.
“It’s hard to see the actual works of artists living outside Okayama. By handling goods that are only available at MOKO in Okayama, I want to create a place for artists and customers to meet,”
Special Exhibitions
Special exhibitions are held every month, so there are 12 events in a year.
Of course, all of them are planned by Tomioka, who decides the theme and gathers the goods.
During the interview, the exhibition being held was the annual “My Favorite Exhibition.”
This is a continuation of the first special exhibition held during the 1st anniversary of ZAKKA MOKO.
For the special exhibition, Tomioka directly contacts the artists to request their participation, but she mentioned that there was also a first-time attempt this time.
“For this time’s ‘My Favorite Exhibition,’ I tried recruiting artists for the first time. All the artists were new to me, and it was very refreshing,”
Meeting new artists and works almost every month is also a charm of the ZAKKA MOKO special exhibitions.
A Building That Was Once a Dormitory
The building of ZAKKA MOKO was originally used as a dormitory for a sewing factory.
According to Tomioka, the building is about 60 years old.
Tomioka's great-grandfather managed the dormitory, and it was also rented out as an office afterward.
Just before ZAKKA MOKO opened, it had not been in use, and only the building remained.
When Tomioka thought about wanting to run a shop, she recalled “this building that was used as a dormitory.”
After consulting with her family, she opened ZAKKA MOKO utilizing the second floor.
If you look closely inside the shop, you will see that the items originally used as shelves on the wall have become display spaces as they are.
Since it is located in a residential area, “many customers come here specifically for MOKO,” Tomioka-san told us with a smile.
Introduction to Some of the Goods for Sale
Here are some of the unique goods available at ZAKKA MOKO.
The works by the artists are one-of-a-kind. Some may be sold out.
Earrings and Piercings
The most common items at ZAKKA MOKO are earrings and piercings.
“Tsurukokemomo” is an accessory brand that is always in stock.
These cute pieces are made with transparent resin, with small flowers scattered throughout.
Some are round, while others are irregularly shaped like ice, making each one unique.
It’s a characteristic of handmade items that the shapes differ from left to right.
Clothing (Women's)
They offer women's clothing made by artists, including tops, skirts, and dresses.
The photo features a piece from “aoiro.t,” which is available for the “My Favorite Exhibition.”
This brand primarily creates children's clothing, allowing for matching outfits when adults wear them too.
At the beginning of ZAKKA MOKO's opening, they only offered children's clothing, not adult clothing.
However, since Tomioka-san herself loved wearing artist-made clothing and often received questions like, “Where did you get that?” and “Who made that?” from customers, she thought, “Maybe it would be good to have clothing,” and started offering it about a year after opening.
The store also has a fitting room, allowing customers to enjoy shopping with peace of mind.
Stationery
The store also carries a wide variety of stationery.
During the interview, the cozyca products block memo pads and letter paper were particularly impressive.
The stationery created in collaboration with artists features hand-drawn illustrations, making each piece something you want to take a closer look at.
Children's Goods
Children's goods include hair accessories, clothing, and tableware such as plates and forks.
The accessories are handmade, each crafted with a gentle yet vibrant color palette.
It was impressive to see many designs that both children and adults can enjoy.
What kind of thoughts went into opening ZAKKA MOKO?
We spoke with the owner, Tomioka-san, reflecting on the past five years.
ZAKKA MOKO Information
| Name | ZAKKA MOKO |
|---|---|
| Address | 7-5-21 Shimonochō, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-454-5780 |
| Parking | Available 3 spaces |
| Business Hours | Wednesday to Saturday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Monday, Tuesday, Sunday Check Instagram for temporary closures |
| Payment Methods |
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| Website | ZAKKA MOKO |
