Lomography Partners: Yaotomi of Osaka, Japan

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Come one, come all. Lomography has partners all over the world to help serve your analogue needs. If you're in Japan then it's your lucky day! We're speaking to our friends from Yaotomi in Osaka. Store owner Kazutaka Sawada tells us about the fascinating and long history behind his shop and his passion for quirky and overlooked film cameras.

© Yaotomi

Hi, and welcome to Lomography Magazine! Please tell us about your store Yaotomi.

The shop-name "Yaotomi" is similar to “yaoya”, meaning a vegetable store, right? Yes! Originally my family ran a vegetable shop "Gifuya" at Edobori, Osaka in the Edo era. But the business environment for such a greengrocer changed drastically with the abolition of feudal domains in the Meiji Restoration, and they moved to Nakanoshima Joanbashi, then opened a new vegetable shop “Yaotomi” there. So our camera shop’s name comes from it. Through some of their connections, they made up their mind to change the vegetable shop to a french restaurant. As “Seiyourou a.k.a Yaotomi”, the restaurant was opened in 1881, Meiji era and it’s said their restaurant was the fourth oldest western restaurant following the famous “Restaurant Jiyu-Tei” in Osaka.

I heard from my father that there was a dispute about deciding the restaurant name. The name was initially just “Seiyourou” because the cooks thought the name “Yaotomi” was not appropriate for a western restaurant. However, my great-grandfather left “Yaotomi” as his strong desire, and we continue to operate as the name of his photo store, carrying on the “Yaotomi” of his desire.

My grandfather was an enthusiast for photography from childhood and was not interested in the restaurant totally. He often took part in gatherings of photography lovers. In 1928 he opened a camera shop.

The photo below shows the opening then and you can find logos of Zeiss, Agfa, Kodak and Ilford in this image (image 1). The logos of Kodak and Ilford are translated to Katakana (Japanese characters). Being known for these brands in Japan in the early Showa era is very impressive. But in this image you cannot find logos like Leica and Japanese brands because these brands didn’t exist or didn't produce cameras then.

© Yaotomi – Image ①

In image 2 the Leica logo appears in a show window in later years of the shop. You can realize that the era of 35 mm format came suddenly (image 2). There were a lot of stocks of chemicals for development and printing papers on shelves in the store, and photography lovers came to talk while sitting in a circle every day (image 3). I think such a community is also one of the origins of our camera shop. The shop was related to a famous photography group “Tampei Photography Club” and its many members sat there and talked about photography.

© Yaotomi – Image ②
© Yaotomi – Image ③

But the shop was completely burned by air raid in WWⅡ. My grandfather took shots in front of the destroyed shop (images 4 and 5). These shots are my origin and give me courage. They make me think a bright future will come even if you are in despair and at the bottom!

© Yaotomi – Images ④ & ⑤

After that he restarted a new shop from ruins. The photo below (image 6) was taken in 1946 !

© Yaotomi – Image ⑥

What are the characteristics and strengths of your shop?

Our corporate philosophy is that as long as we are a camera shop, we should be a shop that can provide not only cameras, but also film sales and photo developing and printing services as a set. This is also the reason why we recently installed a FUJI FP232b, the only color negative developer that we could procure as new.

We try to stock as many photographic products as possible in our stores, including the latest digital cameras, of course Lomography's film cameras and film, used cameras, and accessories. Because we are a small store, we cannot offer the same comprehensive selection as larger stores, but we do offer a wide selection of products, from small to large, under the motto of “being attentive to your needs”.

It is a happy moment when a customer says, “I found something good today”.

© Yaotomi

Are there any unusual cameras or equipment in the store? If so, please tell us about their story and special value.

The foundation of my attitude toward photography is "respect for the popularization of photography." Looking back on the history of photography, one aspect of the development of photography has been the rise of high functionality. But there have also been many behind-the-scenes developments in photography, such as “Fujifilm's Fujipet,” for example, or midget format bean cameras, which were created when film was expensive and difficult to obtain. Or 126 and 110 cartridge film cameras, which were created to prevent film loading errors. I believe that the behind-the-scenes players in the development of photography are not high-end machines, but rather numerous popular machines that have no name. So to make such cameras known is a very important mission.

I think this feeling is expressed in the many used cameras in the store. Of course, the Leica M3 is beautiful, and the Nikon SP is also a beauty. A few rare cameras of vintage are probably also needed in camera stores. But I like to hear, “What! I didn't know there was such a camera!" I want people to be surprised, amused, or amazed to see the cameras lined up in the store.

My staff members are surprised (or perhaps, more accurately, disgusted) by my love of appendix-type cameras, especially those that come with photographic equipment for learning. Photography is chemistry, light is the laws of physics, and I'm a big fan of “Gakken stuff” that tries to teach such things. So I find them and put them on the store shelves. It's strange as a businessman but I'm a little sad when they sell quickly because not many people got to see it.

© Yaotomi

Yaotomi is one of the few camera stores that still develops 110 film and Minox film. Is there a secret as to how and why you can continue to develop these special formats?

Ms. Hino (staff member): We are very happy to see the creativity of our customers coming out of these small cameras in terms of data conversion of Lomo 110 and MINOX films. In order to ensure that you can enjoy your photos for a long time, our staff members repeatedly convert and edit data on their own carriers through a process of trial and error. Not only is 110 film making a comeback, but we can't wait to see how our customers will shoot with the many variations available. Our staff are also Lomography fans, and we would like to continue to provide information to more customers so that they can experience the fun of Lomography.

Is there a particular camera or piece of equipment that you are especially fond of among the cameras and equipment available at the store?

My favorites are cameras that didn't sell at all. What these cameras have in common is the strong desire of their makers. There is no better opportunity to encounter a camera that is overflowing with the maker's thoughts and ideas. Every camera is designed with the expectation that it will sell well, and then the company decides to manufacture and sell it, and failure to sell is a result. I especially like the cameras with a gap between the thoughts of the designer and the customer. When such cameras come in, we will be sure to post them on X (@yaotomicamera), so please take a look.

Our most recent one is this post. This is not a “didn't sell” type, but a “very satisfying to watch” type. A GRALAB darkroom timer made in the USA. Its look is so great.

© Yaotomi

Are there any photographic techniques that the store staff or you have recently tried or are interested in?

I recently purchased a 30 mm Ricoh R1s compact camera. It is very lightweight and I am taking more photos than ever before. It's a compact camera because of its light weight that allows me to take pictures when I feel like it's the right moment!

Ms. Wakabayashi (staff member): I like bright photos, so I basically shoot on nice days. The good thing about wide-angle lenses is that they can capture a variety of views. I am addicted to taking pictures that I can look back on years from now and remember how such a town used to be. I enjoy preserving the landscape with my loved ones.

Over the years have you had any particularly memorable encounters with photography lovers?

My best area of expertise is the Nikon F. As well as being my personal favorite camera, it features a wide and deep collection with numerous items and specification divisions, from variations of the main body to accessories. When I was young, I put the Nikkor AUTO 5.8cm F1.4 on the store at the same price as the regular 50mm F1.4, and one of my regular customers said, “This is rare! You didn't know, did you?” It was very beneficial and honestly frustrating. From then, my desire for camera knowledge grew furiously, and before I knew it, I had mastered it in a very deep way, but another Nikon F collector helped me in this process as well. Customers nurture our staff, and I am a typical example of someone who has been nurtured by customers.

Please visit our store anytime. Just say “Call Yaotter” to our staff and I will come to you right away. And if I can pass on the knowledge to the next generation. . . I am now at the age of thinking that way!

© Yaotomi

Do you have any future plans in the works for Yaotomi?

We recently installed a new film developing machine. As I explained earlier, this is one of the embodiments of our corporate philosophy, and a declaration that we will continue to provide film developing and printing services in the future. We will continue to make the investments necessary to achieve this goal. The next task is developing black and white. While there are no more bright room type in-house processors available, we are looking for ways to respond to urgent development requests.

We believe that there are cameras to use, cameras to touch, cameras to look at, and cameras to own. We will continue to support your photographic life by providing photographic equipment, film, and developing, printing, and enlarging products, with a focus on “cameras for use”.

Finally, do you have a message for future customers visiting your shop?

Our stores, the Osaka Station Central Store and the main store (Osaka Ekimae the 3rd Bldg. Store) are located adjacent to JR Osaka Station. This photo (image 7) was taken when our store moved from Nakanoshima to Osaka Station, when JR Osaka Station was reconstructed after the war. The founder said, “The future is the era of railroads. Many people will come and go through stations.”

© Yaotomi – Image ⑦

Today, the movement of people has become global, and JR Osaka Station is now connected to the world. We are in the age of the Internet, but it is precisely because we are in such an age that we have real stores. Please come from all over Japan and the world. And let's have fun talking about photography!


To keep up to date with everything from Yaotomi follow them on Twitter or visit their website.

Want to see your favorite store featured in our magazine? Please send us an email at wholesaleinquiries@lomography.com and we will check them out!

written by alexgray on 2024-06-18 #gear #partners #history #osaka #japan #lomography-partners #yaotomi

3 Comments

  1. marcelb_lichtet
    marcelb_lichtet ·

    Great articel , and that historic photos are awesome

  2. om_filmz
    om_filmz ·

    🩵

  3. hervinsyah
    hervinsyah ·

    Camera service are essential ❤️ in my town Bandung, Indonesia we have quite lot photo lab but not with a good camera service/repair

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