It used to be just me and my co-worker Sam, who graciously helped me put together this list. And then one afternoon after a video conference, to our surprise we saw our bosses commenting “mine” or “mine next” to a post by our trusted Dapitan tableware Instagram shop. And just like that, we weren’t the only “miners.”

*Sam’s haul after months in quarantine and many “mine” comments later.*

To be fair, by the time our superiors got in the game, we were deep in a mountain (okay, maybe a hill) of our previous finds. For me, celadon platters, stoneware dessert plates, irregular-shaped matte speckled dinner plates and the most delicate pair sake cups. For Sam, lots of mugs and some trinkets including jewel-toned soy sauce dishes that come free with a minimum purchase. And that was only two months into quarantine.

*A prized find filled with arroz caldo made with Beauty Gonzalez’s recipe for Comfort Kitchen*

These online shops, most of them, at least, we assume are hunters. They too scourge Japanese surplus shops and sell their finds online at a margin. Of course, the art of Japanese thrift store hunts is nothing new, but its online counterpart is relatively a new platform.

The art of online scavenging

The mechanics are pretty easy to follow. Each seller posts a date of release in advance and buyers patiently anticipate the drop. If you are well-versed in Instagram, you will set a notification for new posts and stories to make sure you get to call dibs on the items. If you see an item you like, you just comment “mine.” The first commenter gets the item. But someone else could still comment “mine next” in case the first buyer backs out.

If you come in late to the party, there are still gems to be found, too, as most sellers tag available items with a hashtag usually consisting of their shop name + the word “avail.”

From there it’s just a matter of settling your payment and arranging for delivery. But since there are strict border controls and travel restrictions (at least that was the case before) some deliveries take weeks or months even.

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*Said irregular-shaped matte speckled dinner plate where I served my take on Lunch Table’s scallion pancakes*

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But with the enhanced community quarantine downgraded to general community quarantine, ordering and delivery is a breeze. No wonder there are suddenly many new miners and shops.

If you’re worried about getting bamboozled by bogus sellers, let me tell you this: In my experience, I haven’t been victimized by fraudulent online shops. How? Because I always choose those that have a reasonable following. The downside to that is you’ll have more miners to compete with. But that’s part of the fun of this market.

To get you started, here are some Instagram shops worth exploring, each with different pricing and offerings (most of the time). Once you find a shop you like, keep updated on their next drop and set an alarm or even a notification alert.

Miramaru Home

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBkfMLDHF4Z/

If you’re in the market for unique trinkets and not just tableware, this is the place for you. They have amber-colored glass mugs and canisters, iridescent teacups and saucers, and that rare wine decanter/carafe that I still dream of to this day.

Home Love Point

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5NopQnaBI/

This is heaven for those specifically looking for ornate Oriental-printed plates, saucers and bowls. But selections vary, too, every once in a while depending on the collection.

Ureshii PH

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBzcB_fnnPe/

If you’re looking for something other than plates and materials other than ceramic, this Sampaloc, Manila-based shop has plenty of alternatives. They have cute tea sets alongside wicker baskets.

Dapitan Arcade Stall 10

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBkSGCGljwZ/

Unlike other shops, this seller has a dedicated physical space in Dapitan aka home decor and kitchen paraphernalia haven. They have over 5,000 followers (ourselves included) so expect to fight for the ceramic piece you’re eyeing.

Vintage Therapy PH

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBpL83zne3B/

This shop’s selection is a mix of eclectic pieces and minimalist wares. The good thing about them is they usually have items in multiples so there’s a chance that you can still get one or two of the item you’re eyeing even with 2,000 other followers.

Pothos Vintage

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBUxyFGA98p/

This Davao-based shop is not so much about tableware but home decor or tableware that can pass as home decor: quirky saucers as jewelry dishes and oddly-shaped decorative vases.

They also have an auction sales approach where buyers bid, so yes you can outbid anyone for your desired piece.