Approximately 55% of 'unknown value' old items sleeping in homes or parents' houses remain in storage. What are the reasons they haven't been shown to an expert?
A survey of 903 people in Japan reveals that 14.4% of households keep old items of unknown value in storage, with over half leaving them untouched. While 63.8% express interest in having an expert appraise these items, only 14.5% have actually done so, citing difficulties in finding where to ask, apathy, and concerns about costs or fraud as primary barriers.
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- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 01:08
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■ Do you have any 'old items of unknown value' in storage at your home?
Are there any ceramics, hanging scrolls, or old cameras whose true nature you are unsure of sleeping in the back of your parents' closet or on a shelf in your home? It is not uncommon for people to continue storing items inherited from parents or grandparents without ever grasping their true value.
Therefore, we conducted a survey of 903 men and women nationwide in collaboration with Eijyudou, a specialized antique purchasing store, regarding 'items stored at home or at parents' houses without knowing their value.'
* When citing the content of this press release, please take the following actions:
・Include a statement that the source is a 'survey conducted by NEXER, Inc. and Eijyudou.'
・Include a link to Eijyudou (https://www.eijyudou.com/).
'Survey on items stored at home or parents' houses without knowing their value' Overview
Survey method: Internet questionnaire
Survey period: February 26, 2026 - March 6, 2026
Survey targets: Men and women nationwide
Valid responses: 903 samples
Survey questions:
Question 1: Do you have old items (ceramics, hanging scrolls, paintings, dolls, swords, old tableware, cameras, musical instruments, figurines, etc.) stored at your home or parents' house without knowing their value?
Question 2: How are you handling them?
Question 3: Have you ever thought, 'I would like an expert to look at these at least once'?
Question 4: Have you actually had an expert look at them?
Question 5: What is the reason you have not had them looked at? (Multiple choice allowed)
Question 6: If you found out that an item in your home had unexpected value, what would you like to do?
Question 7: Please tell us the reason.
* As a general rule, totals may not equal 100% because figures are rounded to the second decimal place.
■ 14.4% answered that they have 'old items of unknown value in their home or parents' house'
First, we asked whether there were any old items (ceramics, hanging scrolls, paintings, dolls, swords, old tableware, cameras, musical instruments, figurines, etc.) stored at home or parents' houses without knowing their value.
As a result, 14.4% of respondents answered 'yes,' and 85.6% answered 'no.'
It seems that there are unexpectedly many households where items inherited along with family history are sleeping quietly.
■ 55.4% answered that they 'keep them in storage as is'
Next, we asked those who have old items stored without knowing their value how they are handling them.
The most common answer was 'keeping them in storage as is' at 55.4%. This was followed by 'left inside a closet or storage room' at 18.5%, and 'displaying or using them' at 16.9%.
There was also a 3.8% response of 'I want to check the value but don't know how,' indicating a certain number of people who have left things untouched because they don't know how to handle them. It can be seen that many people are in a state of 'having them there for the time being.'
■ 63.8% answered that they 'would like an expert to look at them at least once'
Next, we asked those who answered that they have old items of unknown value if they have ever thought, 'I would like an expert to look at these at least once.'
As a result, 63.8% of respondents answered 'yes,' and 36.2% answered 'no.'
Furthermore, we asked those who had thought 'I would like an expert to look at these at least once' whether they had actually had an expert look at them.
As a result, only 14.5% answered 'yes,' while 85.5% answered 'no.'
Even if there is a desire to have them looked at, only a small fraction of people have actually translated that into action.
■ The #1 reason for not having an expert look at them is 'I don't know who to ask'
So, why haven't they had an expert look at them?
We asked those who had never actually had an expert look at their items for the reason.
The most common answer was 'I don't know who to ask' at 52.1%. This was followed by 'it's a hassle and I keep putting it off' at 47.9%, 'it seems like it would cost money' at 26.8%, 'I think it has no value' at 25.4%, and 'I am worried about being scammed' at 22.5%.
More than half answered 'I don't know who to ask,' revealing a current situation where appraisal and assessment services do not feel accessible.
Also, 'it's a hassle and I keep putting it off' accounted for about half, suggesting that the fact that it does not rise in priority in daily life is a major factor. Psychological hurdles such as 'I am worried about being scammed' and 'I am reluctant because I feel I will be pressured to sell' cannot be ignored.
■ 50.8% answered that they 'would like to sell and cash them in'
Next, we asked those who have old items stored without knowing their value what they would like to do if they found out that an item in their home had unexpected value.
The most common answer was 'I would like to sell and cash them in' at 50.8%. This was followed by 'keep them stored with care' at 27.7%, 'hand them over to family or children' at 6.9%, and 'sell and utilize them in another form' at 6.2%.
The result that more than half wish to cash them in is likely not unrelated to rising prices and increasing interest in living costs. On the other hand, about 28% of people answered 'keep them stored with care,' showing that respect and attachment to things inherited from ancestors remain deeply rooted.
We asked for the reasons for each answer, and here are some examples:
[Respondents who answered 'I would like to sell and cash them in']
- Because prices keep rising and life is hard, so I want money. (Male, 60s)
- I don't use them anymore, so I would be happy if someone who wants them can use them and they turn into money. (Female, 30s)
- Unless they are a memento of someone, I want to let go of them before they get damaged. (Male, 50s)
- There is no successor and it's pointless to keep them, and since I don't feel value in them, I'd rather cash them in. (Female, 50s)
- I think it's better to sell them than to have them lose value due to poor storage conditions. (Female, 50s)
[Respondents who answered 'Keep them stored with care']
- Because they are from my ancestors, I cannot sell them; I would feel terrible. (Male, 60s)
- Because my parents protected these items. (Female, 60s)
- I like them and display them. Whether they have value or not, it will be as it has always been. (Male, 70s)
- Things passed down through generations of ancestors. (Female, 30s)
- Because their value might go up. (Male, 40s)
[Respondents who answered 'Hand them over to family or children']
- I think it's good to have family store them. (Male, 70s)
- Whether they are valuable or just fantasy, I want to pass them down to descendants with care. (Male, 40s)
- Because I don't have a particular need for them. (Male, 60s)
[Respondents who answered 'Sell and utilize them in another form']
- Because I am struggling for money. (Male, 30s)
- I want to get money as assets. (Male, 60s)
- I want to make use of the value of the items. (Male, 80s)
In the free-form responses, while economic reasons such as 'living is hard due to rising prices' and 'I want money' stood out, many voices such as 'they are my ancestors' things, so I cannot sell them' and 'I want to pass them to descendants' were also received.
■ Summary
From this survey, it was revealed that about 14% of people keep old items of unknown value in their homes or parents' houses, and a large portion of them are currently 'keeping them in storage as is.'
Although more than 60% are thinking 'I would like an expert to look at them at least once,' only 14.5% have actually translated that into action. While about half wish to cash them in if they turn out to be valuable, about 30% want to store them with care, showing that people's approaches to old items vary.
In any case, knowing the value of what is being stored can be said to be the first step.
Why not try requesting an appraisal for the items sleeping in your home from a reliable expert?
* Regarding use in articles, etc.
・Include a statement that the source is a 'survey conducted by NEXER, Inc. and Eijyudou.'
・Include a link to Eijyudou (https://www.eijyudou.com/).
[About Eijyudou]
Location: 1F, 135 Nishihara-cho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 452-0848
Representative: Hiroshi Ogawa
Phone number: 0120-060-510
Business content: Store purchasing of antiques and crafts, business trip purchasing of antiques and crafts, wholesale sales of antiques and crafts, home delivery purchasing of antiques and crafts
[About NEXER, Inc.]
Headquarters: Rise Arena Building 11F, 4-5-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013
Representative Director: Yuya Miyata
URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp
Business content: Internet research, SEO, WEB branding, review content, real shop support, website production
Are there any ceramics, hanging scrolls, or old cameras whose true nature you are unsure of sleeping in the back of your parents' closet or on a shelf in your home? It is not uncommon for people to continue storing items inherited from parents or grandparents without ever grasping their true value.
Therefore, we conducted a survey of 903 men and women nationwide in collaboration with Eijyudou, a specialized antique purchasing store, regarding 'items stored at home or at parents' houses without knowing their value.'
* When citing the content of this press release, please take the following actions:
・Include a statement that the source is a 'survey conducted by NEXER, Inc. and Eijyudou.'
・Include a link to Eijyudou (https://www.eijyudou.com/).
'Survey on items stored at home or parents' houses without knowing their value' Overview
Survey method: Internet questionnaire
Survey period: February 26, 2026 - March 6, 2026
Survey targets: Men and women nationwide
Valid responses: 903 samples
Survey questions:
Question 1: Do you have old items (ceramics, hanging scrolls, paintings, dolls, swords, old tableware, cameras, musical instruments, figurines, etc.) stored at your home or parents' house without knowing their value?
Question 2: How are you handling them?
Question 3: Have you ever thought, 'I would like an expert to look at these at least once'?
Question 4: Have you actually had an expert look at them?
Question 5: What is the reason you have not had them looked at? (Multiple choice allowed)
Question 6: If you found out that an item in your home had unexpected value, what would you like to do?
Question 7: Please tell us the reason.
* As a general rule, totals may not equal 100% because figures are rounded to the second decimal place.
■ 14.4% answered that they have 'old items of unknown value in their home or parents' house'
First, we asked whether there were any old items (ceramics, hanging scrolls, paintings, dolls, swords, old tableware, cameras, musical instruments, figurines, etc.) stored at home or parents' houses without knowing their value.
As a result, 14.4% of respondents answered 'yes,' and 85.6% answered 'no.'
It seems that there are unexpectedly many households where items inherited along with family history are sleeping quietly.
■ 55.4% answered that they 'keep them in storage as is'
Next, we asked those who have old items stored without knowing their value how they are handling them.
The most common answer was 'keeping them in storage as is' at 55.4%. This was followed by 'left inside a closet or storage room' at 18.5%, and 'displaying or using them' at 16.9%.
There was also a 3.8% response of 'I want to check the value but don't know how,' indicating a certain number of people who have left things untouched because they don't know how to handle them. It can be seen that many people are in a state of 'having them there for the time being.'
■ 63.8% answered that they 'would like an expert to look at them at least once'
Next, we asked those who answered that they have old items of unknown value if they have ever thought, 'I would like an expert to look at these at least once.'
As a result, 63.8% of respondents answered 'yes,' and 36.2% answered 'no.'
Furthermore, we asked those who had thought 'I would like an expert to look at these at least once' whether they had actually had an expert look at them.
As a result, only 14.5% answered 'yes,' while 85.5% answered 'no.'
Even if there is a desire to have them looked at, only a small fraction of people have actually translated that into action.
■ The #1 reason for not having an expert look at them is 'I don't know who to ask'
So, why haven't they had an expert look at them?
We asked those who had never actually had an expert look at their items for the reason.
The most common answer was 'I don't know who to ask' at 52.1%. This was followed by 'it's a hassle and I keep putting it off' at 47.9%, 'it seems like it would cost money' at 26.8%, 'I think it has no value' at 25.4%, and 'I am worried about being scammed' at 22.5%.
More than half answered 'I don't know who to ask,' revealing a current situation where appraisal and assessment services do not feel accessible.
Also, 'it's a hassle and I keep putting it off' accounted for about half, suggesting that the fact that it does not rise in priority in daily life is a major factor. Psychological hurdles such as 'I am worried about being scammed' and 'I am reluctant because I feel I will be pressured to sell' cannot be ignored.
■ 50.8% answered that they 'would like to sell and cash them in'
Next, we asked those who have old items stored without knowing their value what they would like to do if they found out that an item in their home had unexpected value.
The most common answer was 'I would like to sell and cash them in' at 50.8%. This was followed by 'keep them stored with care' at 27.7%, 'hand them over to family or children' at 6.9%, and 'sell and utilize them in another form' at 6.2%.
The result that more than half wish to cash them in is likely not unrelated to rising prices and increasing interest in living costs. On the other hand, about 28% of people answered 'keep them stored with care,' showing that respect and attachment to things inherited from ancestors remain deeply rooted.
We asked for the reasons for each answer, and here are some examples:
[Respondents who answered 'I would like to sell and cash them in']
- Because prices keep rising and life is hard, so I want money. (Male, 60s)
- I don't use them anymore, so I would be happy if someone who wants them can use them and they turn into money. (Female, 30s)
- Unless they are a memento of someone, I want to let go of them before they get damaged. (Male, 50s)
- There is no successor and it's pointless to keep them, and since I don't feel value in them, I'd rather cash them in. (Female, 50s)
- I think it's better to sell them than to have them lose value due to poor storage conditions. (Female, 50s)
[Respondents who answered 'Keep them stored with care']
- Because they are from my ancestors, I cannot sell them; I would feel terrible. (Male, 60s)
- Because my parents protected these items. (Female, 60s)
- I like them and display them. Whether they have value or not, it will be as it has always been. (Male, 70s)
- Things passed down through generations of ancestors. (Female, 30s)
- Because their value might go up. (Male, 40s)
[Respondents who answered 'Hand them over to family or children']
- I think it's good to have family store them. (Male, 70s)
- Whether they are valuable or just fantasy, I want to pass them down to descendants with care. (Male, 40s)
- Because I don't have a particular need for them. (Male, 60s)
[Respondents who answered 'Sell and utilize them in another form']
- Because I am struggling for money. (Male, 30s)
- I want to get money as assets. (Male, 60s)
- I want to make use of the value of the items. (Male, 80s)
In the free-form responses, while economic reasons such as 'living is hard due to rising prices' and 'I want money' stood out, many voices such as 'they are my ancestors' things, so I cannot sell them' and 'I want to pass them to descendants' were also received.
■ Summary
From this survey, it was revealed that about 14% of people keep old items of unknown value in their homes or parents' houses, and a large portion of them are currently 'keeping them in storage as is.'
Although more than 60% are thinking 'I would like an expert to look at them at least once,' only 14.5% have actually translated that into action. While about half wish to cash them in if they turn out to be valuable, about 30% want to store them with care, showing that people's approaches to old items vary.
In any case, knowing the value of what is being stored can be said to be the first step.
Why not try requesting an appraisal for the items sleeping in your home from a reliable expert?
* Regarding use in articles, etc.
・Include a statement that the source is a 'survey conducted by NEXER, Inc. and Eijyudou.'
・Include a link to Eijyudou (https://www.eijyudou.com/).
[About Eijyudou]
Location: 1F, 135 Nishihara-cho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 452-0848
Representative: Hiroshi Ogawa
Phone number: 0120-060-510
Business content: Store purchasing of antiques and crafts, business trip purchasing of antiques and crafts, wholesale sales of antiques and crafts, home delivery purchasing of antiques and crafts
[About NEXER, Inc.]
Headquarters: Rise Arena Building 11F, 4-5-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013
Representative Director: Yuya Miyata
URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp
Business content: Internet research, SEO, WEB branding, review content, real shop support, website production