Western antique furniture has an ambivalent reputation. Some people are so enchanted with it that they become collectors, while others simply think of it as old, dirty -- and often unreasonably expensive.
But for furniture restorer Tatsuharu Tanaka, 50, antiques are neither luxury nor junk. He regards them rather as raw material of excellent quality. They are, he says, tools to help make life more relaxed and comfortable.
"The quality of wood in antique furniture is so good, it just can't be obtained new at anywhere near the same price," Tanaka says. "With proper restoration, an old piece will recover its original beauty and become a lifetime partner."