Water Color Riders + Park Party

Nagoya's Water Color is a skate shop that truly supports their local shred community.  If you ever have time to check out their website you can't help but notice that they upload pics and videos from their shop almost everyday.

I think Higuchi-san takes pride in his shop.  He can be a bit shy at first but you get talking about shredding or the likes and he's a different guy - he's passionate.  Glad to have him stoked on the Index Ink goods!

And, earlier this month at Kamome Skate Park the boys held a little get together - "Park Party!" - where a lot of the local community just got together to... well... shred!  It appears one of the reasons for this was the park just had a new section added to it, so... yeah... there ya go!

Anywho, have a look see and enjoy some local Japanese shreds having a blast.  I'm not gonna lie, seeing these guys so amped up makes me wanna get out there and shred! (Index Riders "UP" 0-0:22, and, "Dice-K 1:03-1:17)  宜しく〜！

New Rider + Hot Rods = マジ最高〜！w

"Behind every challenge lies an opportunity."

I firmly believe this to be true.  Amidst all of the negative press concerning Japan with the earthquake, tsunami, constant aftershocks and most recently the meltdown of the Daiichi Fukushima Nuclear Plant there are some positives to be seen.

Prologue....if you will

I see a lot of skaters not only in the Tokyo area, but also on my business trips around Japan.  Even though skating is a small part of our industry as a whole, I feel that skateboarding can be seen as the "gateway" sport (drug) to the action sports industry.

In the past, Japan has had small, what I will dub, 'interest bubbles' driven purely by mass appeal and hype and superficial understanding, but I think the small core of Japanese riders who rode it out planted the seed well.

I am fairly confident that skateboarding is not only "here to stay", but to grow and foster a positive image and interest *not only* for itself but for our industry as a whole.  I am totally stoked on this!!
 

☆ NEW RIDER ☆

Index Ink Japan is stoked on bringing Dice-K (Daisuke) Nakaura to the forefront and throwing him on our flow team.  Judging by some of his recent activities this 15yr old is going to turn heads in a few years!

I recently talked with him on the phone only to find out that he *just* came back from America.  Not only that, but he lived there for about 10yrs.  He got into skateboarding while in the states and having come back to Japan recently has been tearing it up his hometown of Nagoya!

This past weekend he and our other rider "UP" were at the "JOINTS CUSTOM BIKE SHOW 2011" where they did some shredding and put on a demo or two for the folks taking in some classic American iron!

For now, check out the pics and stay tuned for an updated bio on Dice-K and some new shop info!!

Japan - Post Earthquake Happenings

Well, truth be told, since the big earthquake and subsequent Tsunami on March 11th we've had little time to rest.  Earthquakes and aftershocks are more or less daily occurrences.  In fact, according to the Japanese media, they recently stated that there were something along the lines of 100+ aftershocks *and* earthquakes within the ensuing week.  And,  as of today I am assuming that number has more or less doubled.

Some friends of mine who are affiliated/have their own congregation (Church) here in Tokyo were able to get special permission from the Japanese government to travel on the highways despite heavy heavy restrictions on travel - your average Japanese person had no such privilege.

Even though I am not a religious person the people at Kamizoku Church in Tokyo were incredibly kind to me and allowed me to tag along and help out.  They were receiving semi-truck loads of goods from the US bases near Tokyo and doing their best to bring it up in smaller car loads so as to target the relief centers most in need.

  
So, a week after the Earthquake, on the 18th, I headed up to the disaster areas with the aforementioned people to help out with the relief effort.  I spent a few days in Natori (Sendai) and went to 6 or 7 Relief/Refugee Centers throughout the Ishinomaki and Shichigahama areas.  I brought with me about 70% of my clothes (which I gave away) and about $120 worth of candy for the kids and elderly, and of course I brought foodstuffs with as well.


In the end, it was the single most humbling experience of my life.  I cannot tell you how many times my group members and I were without words only to just sigh at what was in front of us.  We hear this often - it's cliche, I know.  But when no words suffice it really makes you stop and think about everything.  I feel blessed and lucky to be alive!

So, hear we are, a little over a month has passed and aside from the ongoing, ever-worsening nuclear disaster the Japanese people and those living here in Japan are doing their very best to press on.  Tokyo is pretty much back to normal.  Most of the conversations I hear are not about the recent earthquake but about daily life.  I think, if anything, the Japanese people, including myself, would prefer to just move on. 

For now, please check out a few of my photos.  I will be uploading some of my videos at a later date.

Also, good news for Index Ink Japan - new riders and new shops!  More on that very very soon!