My Japanese mother-in-law's apartment is a wonder to behold, each room a gallery of knickknacks, trinkets and mass-produced souvenirs -- a veritable emporium to unintended kitsch. You might call her a collector. Among the accumulated treasures are luminescent fridge magnets, Hawaiian hulu dancer figurines, assorted doilies and antimacassars, a maneki-neko beckoning cat and a ceramic Cinderella cookie jar.
Tea Leaves
Why kitsch is cool in Japan
Over-the-top aesthetics may not be for everyone, but they are fun
Kitsch or cultured? Sometimes the line is blurred in Japan. (All photos by Stephen mansfield)
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