How to Avoid Japanese Knockoffs

Video Transcript

"Let's talk a little bit about Japan knockoffs, if you can imagine that. Knockoffs of a knockoff, anyway, some of the knockoffs look real Japanish and ones that are real common right now that you see everywhere, don't buy them. I learned this one the hard way. Now, since you're an expert on Japan now, if you saw this Expert Village, wouldn't you say this is a wonderful piece of Japan collectible? Would you say it is? Wrong. No. This would be, this has that Brazil look. I could name this in a split second. I know the Brazil look, it's got a way higher sheen, it's made right now and, of course, it says made in Brazil, what a great tip-off. So these are brand new, they look like Japanese collectibles, when you're starting out in antiquing, you buy them because you think they are, but they're not. Here's another one. This looks like a Japan but it's a Brazil. So, you really don't want to buy these because they make them now and they're pretty much worthless. You'll see them in antique malls, people trying to sell them, like here, for twenty bucks. Forget it. I wouldn't, you couldn't pay me to take this unless I had a friend who had a soft spot for a pigeon in a bucket or a basket. But, other than that, forget it. You don't want any of these Brazil items, they're garbage, but you think they're cool, as I did, I hate to say. I didn't buy this one, but I have bought some Brazil items and they have gone bye bye. So, Brazil, bye bye. If it looks like Japan and it says Brazil, guess what, it's not Japan."