A huge used clothing store in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, has racks filled with 100,000 garments including jackets, jeans and sweaters. The customers at this clothing treasure trove included a woman who prefers wearing oversized men's clothing; a man who likes a quiet drink while admiring the second-hand clothing he displays at home; and a high school student who wears her father's clothes. For 3 days during an autumn lull in the coronavirus pandemic, we asked shoppers what they came to buy to jazz up their wardrobes.

As 2021 draws to a close, workers in Tokyo's Shimbashi business district flock to a long-established western-style sweets shop famous for its cream puffs and other tasty delights. Among the customers were a boss buying treats for his hard-working subordinates; a construction worker treating himself after an exhausting day on the job; and a father buying a gift of appreciation for his family. For 3 days, we asked customers seeking a sweet treat if 2021 had been bitter or sweet for them.