
In this photo taken on May 14, 2026, buyers look at carts of stuffed toys as they wait to bid on them at the Hamaya wholesale auction site in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama Prefecture. Under a scorching sun in a Bangkok suburb, a whistle blows and shouts fill the air as dozens of shoppers rush into a warehouse bearing the sign: "Japanese Second-Hand Store". From bags and bicycles to surfboards and suitcases, the Japanese second-hand market is booming, with quality-conscious buyers in other Asian countries increasingly tapping into the circular economy trend. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images) / To go with "JAPAN-LIFESTYLE-ENVIRONMENT-RECYCLE,FOCUS' by Montira Rungjirajittranon with Kyoko Hasegawa




