Japanese Chopstick Wrapper Collector Kim Moser Speaks

Kim Moser likes chopstick wrappers almost as much as Japanese food. I spoke to him recently about his wrapper collection. During the discussion, Kim mentioned that he welcomes any additional wrappers or donations that anyone would care to make to his collection. Here's what else Kim had to say about chopstick wrappers:

ephemera: I have to be honest. I love Asian food, but I use a folk or spoon to eat. I'm a Philistine. So, how did you become interested in chopstick wrappers?

Moser: About 15 years ago I saved a few interesting wrappers. Once I had a couple of dozen, I realized that it was starting to turn into a collection, at which point, I made a conscious effort to collect as many unique ones as I could.

ephemera: They say anytime you have more than three of something that it's a collection. I guess you're living proof of that old adage. What challenges do you encounter in collecting chopstick wrappers? 

Moser: These days the hardest part is finding new, unique ones that I haven't seen before and which aren't just custom-printed ads for a given restaurant, which are usually kind of boring anyway. I keep scouring Japanese, Chinese, and Korean restaurants wherever I go, especially in cities away from home.

When I find wrappers that are sealed all around--usually the ones that contain long chopsticks--I have to find a way to get the chopsticks out without damaging the wrapper too much. I usually make a small incision in one end and slide out the chopsticks. Often, I'll do that with two sets, making the incision on either side, so I have a couple of variations.

Last but not least, getting them home unscathed can often be a problem if I don't have something to carry them in.

ephemera: You have a real system in place. Sounds exciting. What are your favorite items in your collection?

Moser: I like ones with strange shapes or intricate designs and colors. They stand out from the mass-produced designs that you can find anywhere.

ephemera: What's your advice for achieving success as a collector?

Moser: Do it because you want to, not because you have to. And be persistent.

ephemera: That's the credo of the collector. What recommendations to you have for would-be chopstick wrapper collectors?

Moser: Aside from the few dozen wrappers I've framed, I keep the rest in a couple of large envelopes. I should probably do something more permanent and protective like putting them in a binder but I haven't gotten around to that yet.

ephemera: This might be the start of a new craze in collecting. The chopstick wrapper could become the next big thing in ephemera. I hope so. And I appreciate your willingness to tell us about your collection and the hunt for new wrappers. Thanks, Kim.