Zindies

Today I visited Iruka Shorin and Yume Tsuna Base, both of which are registered with Zindies. Iruka Shorin is the kind of shop that’s hard to picture in a city center: it’s difficult to reach by public transport, but it has a large parking lot and people basically come by car. I happen to live nearby, so I walked there, which at first surprised the staff. Suburban-style facilities often bring to mind large chain stores, but this place operates more like an independent business, using nimble, local moves — a really interesting spot. After that I went to Nagoya to visit Yume Tsuna Base. I was partly visiting to thank them because Iruka Shorin had introduced them to Zindies. I hadn’t been able to reach the owner beforehand, so I worried they might be away, but that turned out to be unfounded. I heard about the reasons and thoughts behind opening the space, and learned they’re actually around the same generation as me. Their desire to cherish paper as a physical medium rather than an online one resonated strongly with Zindies as well. The shop carries not only ZINEs but also sundries and stationery, and it has space for workshops. It has the feel of a good old record shop, yet it’s not so niche that only aficionados would enjoy it — I thought it’s the kind of place where anyone can find something they like. I found and secured several interesting ZINEs. Encounters with ZINEs are once-in-a-lifetime; there may not be another chance. Among them I picked up a ZINE I feel a particular fondness for, #nannohanashidesuka. Although they joined Zindies only recently, I heard they’ve already started interacting with creators, so I told them to ask anything if they had questions and then left the shop. I’ve been part of the ZINE scene for about a year now, and many people here have an open, creative attitude — just talking with various people is energizing. I visited two places today, so I’m physically tired, but it was a fulfilling day. I’m grateful to the two owners who took the time to talk with me.