Getting to know your local Japanese rider

While we are waiting for our new batch of Index Ink goodies to roll on into Tokyo I had some time to catch up with one of the newest additions to the Index Ink flow team,  Yuichi "UP" Hirai.  Now, the "UP" isn't 'up' in the traditional sense we are used to, but rather it's said just like the folks from the "UP" or "Upper Peninsula" in Michigan.

Anywho, now that we got that out of the way, let's find out about Mr. UP.   I recently sent him the questionnaire given to all the Index Ink riders and go getters and chatted with him on the phone.  So, without further ado here's what he had to say...

Around twenty or so questions with Yuichi "UP" Hirai

Age: 26

Residence: Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Occupation: Skater

How long have you been doin’ your thang?

For about 8yrs now.

What motivates you to get up in the morning?

Nice weather and good food... yeah that'll do it!

Best burrito spot? Or favorite food joint?

Any burrito in the SF area.

What’s your setup?

Index Ink 7.62 Pop with Thunderlight trucks and Index 54s!

Favorite type of music? Artist/group?

It's all gravy - I like it all.

Coke or Pepsi?

Coke, fuh sho!

If you were in a high speed chase…

I'd find a way to ditch 'em!

When I grow up…

I don't want to grow up.

Favorite trick?

 Push shove-it or Powerslides prolly.

Local session spot?

Kamome Skatepark or Takayama Skatepark.

Favorite ride?

Any supercar.

What’s your biggest accomplishment so far?

Winning the 2008 "eS Game of Skate Contest"

Give us an interesting little known fact about yourself…

I'm an electrician.

Other interest or hobbies?

Chillin with friends and boozin it up.

Are you competitive by nature?

No.

Money’s no object and you were leaving tonight, where go to?

An island with no people and an everlasting Summer.

Morning or night ?

Night.

How do you continue to push yourself?

Watch skateboarding videos and have a few cocktails.

Where do you wanna be 5 years from now?

Just havin a great time!

If I were king…

Prolly want to redo everything...

Any shout outs to other sponsors, friends, family?

Yeah, to Index Ink for hookin up kid and to Water Color, my hometown shop, for all the support!  And to Pwc Films and VB Beer and of course my friends!!  Thank you all!!

And, I was snooping around UP's shop, Water Color, and their site and found a pretty cool photo.  Now some of you may think this was done just for this blog, but that's not the case.  You can check out the blog and see for yourself that this pic was taken way before this post!  Here's UP given the lowdown to some new buck about to take on his first of many Index Ink decks!

The cats at Water Color are always on it.  You don't need to speak Japanese to understand these guys are really pushing skating the way it needs to be - they're just having fun!  So, for now, do me a favor and peep their shop blog!! 

New gear... on the horizon...

Hello to All,

Again, it has been a while since my last post (there seems to be a pattern here.)  Regardless, it has been an eventful past month and a half for sure!  Since my last post I have; met up with Chad and discussed a lot about Index Ink's solid future in Japan, was able to see some of the new stuff for the Fall/Winter/Holiday of 2010 and so on - sweet lookin' stuff!!

Also, during this past month or so I was able to head home for a short stint to see family and friends and do some fishing and work on some cars (drag cars to be exact!!)

Anywho, now that I am back in Japan things are starting to take off.  Busy, busy, busy!  If I am not mistaken Chad and Teff were busy this past week (and weekend) with the ASR show in San Diego!  We, too, are gearing up for our "ASR" which is called Interstyle Expo (Sept. 1~2.)  This expo is pretty much like ASR, just in Japanese! haha

Since the last post several more orders have been placed for Index Ink - woo hoo!  In particular, a really cool, small-time skate and surf shop called, "SUBSTANCE SURF"!  The owner and long time surfer/skater, Moroi-san is as legit as they get!  Surfing and skating for over 30 years it goes without saying this guy knows his $%&^!   He's really stoked on his Index decks right now!!

And, since we're now talking about Tokyo...I happened to go out the other night in Shibs (Shibuya) with some friends for some drinks and some dinner and happened to stumble across these two distinguished gentlemen.  The "less fit" gentleman to the left woke up just after I took the pic and informed me, verbatim... "I AM BLACK BEAR!" to which he then proceeded to resume his hibernation...  And, for the record, guys and gals passing out like this in public is not all that uncommon.

Like this guy, I'm out!!

東北の出張 -- Tohoku Trip!

This past week my boss, Akane-san, and I headed up North to visit some of our pro shop customers and some Murasaki Sports stores.  We had a lot of fun and the staff from Murasaki Sports were surprisingly very happy to see us!  So much so that the Akita store put in a big order for us!!  =D

Needless to say, we got the good word out all over the Tohoku region and a lot of people are really starting to take notice of Index Ink over here in Japan - Awesome!  Naturally they always ask about our skate team and who we have.  And, the recent addition of Clay Kreiner to the Index Ink team is great!! I think he could definitely become a reference point for young skaters here in Japan, as well as the US.

I suppose I should mention that one of the places we hit up was Akita Prefecture, and, that I went to a university there for a year (exchange program), which is rapidly growing in popularity not just in Japan, but all over the world!  Akita International University (秋田国際教養大学.) Check it out for yourself.

A little unknown/known fact, depending on who you talk to, Akita is one of Japan's best kept secrets.  The local cuisine, culture and more importantly the people are truly the best!!  They have this festival, or Matsuri (祭り), called Namahage.  In short, this festival is to scare the living daylights out of children in the hopes they obey their parents, don't get into trouble, etc.  To be honest, I think it works.  haha

Likewise, there was this restaurant in Akita city that had the "Namahage" theme.  Akane-san and I were super stoked to eat there, however, they were completely booked.  We were so bummed!

I had the opportunity to attend this festival when I was in Japan the first time (2004/5) and it was as though I was literally in a dream world.  It felt like something out of a movie.  It really did.  So, if you're ever in Japan I highly, highly suggest hitting up Akita!

Tokyo, tuning out.


Also, I found an interesting cultural Japanese character called, "Hyottoko ひょっとこ"

God Finger...?

Hello All,

Things are going great here in Tokyo and/or Japan.  While Index is making inroads on its own, I had some down time this last week (thank you Golden Week) so I decided to hit up 'Akiba' (Akihabara) to check out the latest "Geek" goods and hit up some Maid cafes (yeah, I went!)

On my way back home, however, I had to pick up some things so I decided to stop at a chain store called "Donkihote" to pick up some beverages (they literally have everything from food to beer to clothes to electronics and then some!)  So, having the a whole week ahead of me, with nothing to do, I decided to just browse around the store for a little bit.

Now, I must make something clear, after having lived in Japan for the last 6 years I can claim that there is not much that surprises me anymore.  Sure the never ending myriad of goofy English names still make me giggle, but, hardly will I see or experience something hilarious or down-right shocking.  But as the saying goes "There's always something..."

It's true, there IS always something.  Ladies and Gentlemen, behold... "GOD FINGER"  Now, I happened to be accompanied by my lady at the time so we felt that a cell phone pic was a definite must for this "special" occasion. Apparently, homeboy is a rather famous "AV Actor" which I, of course, had no idea (but that's what my lady told me.)  Needless to say, I did find it rather peculiar that she seems to "know" who this guy is...(that situation was a little awkward to say the least) lol.

Over and out,
God Finger

This time... something interesting....

Hello All,
It's more than obvious I haven't posted anything in a while, but I do have some good news.  The first being business.

We just recently got some more Murasaki Sports stores on board, as well as another pro shop/retail shop!  Which is great.  The latter throwing in an order for six decks and two sets of wheels!  YES!!  While this may sound sub-par, it couldn't be further from the truth.

Anyway, changing gears a bit, I thought my American/English readers might enjoy some recent pics I've taken with my cell phone here in Japan.  Enjoy!

From L to R (Top to Bottom):  
(1)Time with mommy.  (Arcade in South Shinjuku, Tokyo)
(2 & 3) No, that is not a mask on the guy impersonating MJ. (Shibuya, Tokyo)
(4) My favorite Japanese cuisine, Okonomiyaki! (Osaka)
(5) Saba (Mackerel) my favorite sushi.  (Shinjuku, Tokyo)
(6) Tan-Tan Men - Some of the best Ramen in Tokyo (Shibuya, Tokyo)
(7) Yakiniku - grilled meat - Matsuzaka Gyu, some of the best beef in the world!  (Matsuzaka, Japan)
(8) And lastly, some festival close by our office here in Shibuya!!  (Shibuya, Tokyo)

It's been a while...

Finally I've had some time to sit down and write about what's been happening these past few weeks/months here in Tokyo.  We finally got our Index decks and shirts in - a lot of which will be used as giveaways.

stock room pic

I'm super stoked on getting everything out there and spreading the good word.  Just before Christmas I headed down to Murasaki Sports, Harajuku (Takeshita Dori) and handed over their Index order.  Needless to say, they were stoked (especially on the iClone deck!)

Fast forwarding a bit, next week (25th onward) we are having an in-house "mini-expo" for our customers since they are coming from various places throughout Japan to Tokyo, as many of the big snowboard and ski distributors hold their in-house expos around this time of the year.

And it usually holds true that most places that rock snowboard gear also rock skateboard gear.  So, we are all pretty excited about seeing our customers and more importantly introducing them to Index Ink first hand.

I, however, will be buggin' out on the 27th for the SIA show, which is held in Denver this year and won't be back until the 31st.  There I will be catching up with clients most notably Automaton Snowboards' Brenton Woo, who previously went to Chad for some deck designs (most recent and most notably, 2008/09 season's "Independent").

Chad Carothers' 2008/09 Independent (Automaton)

For now check out this pic of our office (it's a mess as we are preparing for the upcoming in-house expo, and, it was taken from my phone.)  I will post up some more pics once everything's in place.  I'm out!

From Japan,
Kel 

temporary showroom pic