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!

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