A lot of the time we get a mix of international heads here in Tokyo. Kenny Owens from Charlotte was out here the whole September on a journey by himself. Kenny is a skater(dope mistral on rails) and a filmer(say word 3 out now!) skating with Montre and Dre back in Charlotte. He was staying over at his mom's friends house in Roppongi for a month and we got to go there one day. It was straight out luxury and amazing. A place you could never afford to live by yourself. Plus kenny had the freshest kicks and clothes you wouldn't believe. 

Charlotte, Los Angeles, Chiba, ghetto-Paris and rich-Paris. Where da japanese headz be!? Just look at the international faces we had last weekend.Kenny from Charlotte and Ken Lee, the OG from LA now lives and works here in Tokyo. YAY! And of course Gauthier and Kader are from Paris and are living here for school and work. I have my greatest respect for all the skaters that are here in Japan living by themselves (those who even bother to get out of their own country leaving friends and family home). I've been living by myself in Tokyo for 6 years, so I know what it's like to find skating buddies in a completely new environment.

here's my buddy Yuto and Kunii

Shintaro and Gauthier

This was the day we finally got to skate with Ken Lee and it was Kenny's last day in Japan as well. So we went to a farewell dinner for some Okonomiyaki and Monjya!!!!! Shintaro aka Chef-taro is the chef so of course he cooked the best crispy Okonomiyaki. 

Kenny was a fresh dude, too fresh from the dirty south and his video "Say Word 3" was surprisingly dope too. I though Say Word was just a Montre and Dre local video, but its right down dirty and raw just like the old VGs. Not giving a fuck about copyright and worrying about getting sued, putting Raekwon and AKIRA in a skate video is right on the spot for me. Thats what I'm talking 'bout boy! So if you are looking for some not-so-serious good time skate video, check out Say Word 3 and ...PHHHOOONE HHHHOOOOME!!! Kenny, I hope you had a great time in Japan and got home safely. Don't forget Japan and keep it fresh in Charlotte bro.

You see Rollerblading to me is a moving artform much like dancing or martial arts, and I appreciate those who move with this distinct flow or water like form. This to my eyes is the most appealing and enjoyable to watch, and those which exhibit this are my favorites. The most recent name I can think of after watching a Youtube section of his is ironically Chiaki Ito. It does not surprise me at all, as being from Japan it is embedded in his genes to be so. I hope one day to visit Japan, and be influenced by its fluid rolling nature. Here is An examply of that from a video called "Bloodstained Concrete". Much respect Chiakisan! from Controlled Accidents Num. 4, Rollerblade Solo Testing, Mizu Blading

I know this was a while back but Robert Guerrero posted his thought on his blog about rollerblading tricks and skating in general. In my eyes, Rob G. wasn't always the best, the most stylish nor the crowd's favorite. But he seemed to have his own unique take on skating and not let it get to him through out his long career. It was surprising to read that his ideal form of skating existed all the way across the ocean and in Japan. Or maybe the Japanese way of skating traveled across the Pacific Ocean and caught him. hmm...

As a matter of fact, Chiaki is on the verge of bringing even more fluidity in rollerblading. I'm not saying this just because I like his style. He is actually changing, getting more... well, watery. He's been performing for demos and theme-park musical shows few times a year and takes dance lessons in doing so. Performing with other dancers, BMXers and skateborders, he said that he get ideas for new "tricks" as well as effective ways to showcase rollerblading to the audience. I have been skating and seen his new moves and it is slick but very subtle. A lot of tweaks and slides, some even looks like he is riding on an invisible skateboard... only a few will ever notice and appreciate the difference. Good luck Gurerro-san.

Rob G.が

自身のブログ

で理想のスケートスタイルについて書いていた時に、その例としてあげられてたのが彼がYouTubeで最近見たBloodstainedConcrete、伊藤千秋のパート。彼曰く、もはや技に「古い」も「新しい」も無く、空手やダンスのように一連の流れを大切にした動きを追求していると。

これは果たしてYouTubeというIT革命を通じてRobG.が理想のスケートを日本で発見したのか、それとも日本のスケートがついには海を渡ってRobGのようなスケーターの心に響いたのか。

もし、YouTubeにこのプロファイルがアップされていなければ、そして的確にタグ付けされていなければRobGは自分が理想として追い求めていたスケーティングを目にする事がなかったかもしれない。

今、自分達がやっている事が周りに理解されなくても、地球のどこかにきっと同じ想いで共感してくれている人間がいると思うと、ただただ外に向かって発信し、自ら動いて探して行くしかないと思った。HRTZ！

Real Knows Real

The Empire Japan Tour08...See the whole trip and Japan from LaRocwell's side of the lens. ...and Tory's here and here...and Camerons here

...and the whole trip and young foreigners having the time of their life in Japan through my eyes here. Great memories with great people. Never stop having fun.

Thank you to Azik, JERO, Cam-chan, Ivan, Vic, Vinny, PAZ aka Jesus, Tory, Jeff, Sayer, Jeromy, Justin and Scott for one memorable weekend, man. The capusel hotel, karaoke, night spent on the delayed train and on the Shinjuku streets... never thought I would ever sleep inside Tokyo station. Hanging out with you guys, I felt like I was traveling to a different world too. Seeing part of your life and then looking back at my life through your eyes...whoa. Travel is "Tabi" in Japanese..."Tabi". See ya later guys and never forget the fears you overcame in Japan. It just makes you that much stronger...I'm talking about the public bathhouse, guys. HRTZ baby! 実際に会って酒を交しながらゆっくり話してみると、それぞれのしっかりした考えや純粋な気持ちが見えて一気に仲良くなったHEAT/ABLEの奴ら。むしろ、ビデオや広告が作り上げるイメージで勘違いされている部分は多く、彼らの素の部分やキャラクターは決してビデオだけじゃ見えて来ないんだな。彼らがアメリカに帰った後も今まで通りビデオや雑誌を通して彼らの滑りを見る事はできるんだろうけど、逆に写真には写らない彼らの素の部分も今後、時間をかけて追っていきたいね。うん。 今回の「旅」もジェロとジェロミーがカッコイイ記事やビデオに仕立て上げてくれると思うので楽しみに。それまではスナップ写真を通して彼らの素の部分をじっくり読み取って下さい。

This is the DVD cover for "theStem" I did in December. With hopes that the cover design would be as good as the skating featured inside, I scattered a lot of stories inside the artwork.

I challenged myself to make a hand crafted art piece by sticking(or going back) to the analog methods of designing, using scissors, glue and colored pencils and less time on the computer.

   いつもと変わらない穏やかな浮間公園、、、

何の前触れも無く、彼らは突然現れた 「イィィゼェェェ」 大きな唸り声と共に陸、海、そして空からSKBが攻め込んで来た 空に浮かぶSKBリーダーの不気味な笑みさらに何処から現れたのかそれをはやし立てる野次馬が車の上によじ乗り彼らを煽るそれはDISTERに対する聖地での宣戦布告を意味した東村山のSKB、もはや彼らに常識は通用しない、、、ただDISTERも黙ってはいなかった。闇に包まれたある金曜の夜、DISTERはSKBを制圧した 後にDISTERとSKBはけん玉協定を結び、再び世界征服に向けて少しづつ動き出すのであった いつの日か大きな花を咲かすべく、彼らはひたすら茎として徹した theStemのDVDジャケットをデザインする際に自分が描いたストーリー。突如、東村山から出て来たSKB、全員スケート歴が長い上にキャラも濃い。そして全く物怖じする様子も無く声がやたらでかい。コイツら一体何なんだ！？ 自分がはじめて彼らに会った時に受けた衝撃、彼らの勢いとインパクトがビデオでも上手く伝わったかな？落ち着いたジャズが彼らにしては少し上品過ぎたかもね。東村山って土地柄もあると思うけど普段の彼らはホントにやばいんだから、、、自分たちの試写会で消化器ブチ撒くなよっ！！

During the year and a half filming for "theStem", a lot of things happened around us. The SKB guys were skating every single week stacking footage and lots of great memories and friendship were born on tour. Then one day the legendary skate spot, Ukima would get blocked for good. R.I.P I wanted to capture those memories so most of the pictures used in the cover are ones actually taken by Sho during the making of the video. They each have a special meaning to it. The paper napkin parachute guys falling from the sky, the Kendama, Ukima park(R.I.P), the mackerel and everything...

"SOLAR"の試写会を偵察しにテツとショウ君とひっそり大阪に行ってきました。 宿はいつものカプセルホテル、食事はたこ焼き、ネギ焼き、ホルモン、串カツ。物価も安く、ビールは390円。日本で小さな外国発見。大阪a.k.a "O-town"の写真をどうぞ！ 偵察と言いながらこの３人は大の大阪好き。 あまりにも広すぎる東京に比べて、ほとんどの場所に自転車で行ける大阪は「遊び」が根付いている感じがした。「毎度、毎度〜！」 試写会の後にはなんと、三角公園（僕達は勝手に"居酒屋ampm"って呼んでいた）でスケートコンテストが勃発するミラクルも！エントリー1000円で最初にレールを通した人が賞金総取、スケートは千秋君のXsjadoを順番に履いての一発勝負。みんな慣れないスケート（しかも新品下ろしたて）とだいぶ酔いが回ってるのもあってなかなかメイクが出ない。結局、第二ラウンドにもつれ込んだところで千秋君が冷静に貫通〜。おめでとうございます、10,000円ゲットです！これが本当のプロですよ、みなさん。 This past weekend I went to Osaka the "O-town" with Sho and Tetz from Tokyo for the new"Solar" skate video premiere. Thinking it was only proper for us to pay a visit to their premiere and have a look. (note: we were the one to step up the game by holding our own premiere party for "theStem" back in January. booya!)

Chiaki generously posing for the camera. The premiere was nice with around 70 people gathering, faces new and old. The video was beautiful using HD cameras and editing proper HD style. I liked the skate boot macro-shots and Soichiro's IC chip image cuts before his profile. Another reason to believe that Soichiro is  a machine. Oh well, we stepped up the game again by holding a premiere AND traveling 3 hours to go see THIER premiere! Hey guys, let's see you on our turf next time. No hate there. Aside from the Tokyo-Osaka rivalry, I just love the atmosphere of Osaka and so does Sho and Tetz. The food is amazing and the beer is cheap! The girls are more loud and I like that. I guess we just wanted a reason to go to Osaka and chillaxxx. Some famous ladmarks in Osaka are... 

"Tako-yaki" aka "octopus balls"

The Yebisu-bashi. 

The world famous Chiaki Ito is a proud Osaka native. Chiaki showing his own Osaka fashion style here. I feel some kind of a Hip-Hop vibe in the crazy loud neon signs and the whole town. No ones afraid to be too loud in this town.

People actually "hang out" in Osaka. You don't see this in Tokyo much.

This is the Sankaku-Kouen(Triangle Park) located right in the middle of Shinsai-bashi district. A lot of clubs around the area and girls, girls, girls... After the premiere a skate contest broke out on this round handrail. Each person would chip in 1,000 yen and the first one(everyone was pretty drunk at the time) to do the whole rail would take it all, On the second round, Chiaki took home the 10,000 yen in cash with a solid royale. The MTV S&M festival champ knows how to win the prize money. Thanks to everyone in Osaka for the premiere and skating the next day.Good to see y'all and see you in Tokyo. Peace!  

This summer I went to Paris, this time with Sho aka "SoftPimp" and Yuto. We stayed at Gauthier's house and chilled for 2 weeks living the life of a Parisian. Traveling with "SoftPimp" and getting a chance to see life through his eyes definitely changed my way of thinking a little bit, definitely in a positive way. While on the trip not only did i get to see all the familiar faces in Paris, but I was lucky enough to meet Alex and the VALO guys on tour (big ups to Alex and lifetime respect to Jon Julio). Never had I imagined 12 years ago when I first started skating that one day I'd skate with Jon Julio the man himself. Here are some pics from the amazing trip. Enjoy.

Of course we went to Bercy. Met the VALO guys on tour. There weren't any 7-11s or vending machines in the streets of Paris, so we went to "BRASSERIEs" a little cafe/bar in the streets of Paris. Ate french fries at an American diner in St.Paul (pronounced "san-pole")Every morning we would go buy Bread aka "Baguette" fresh baked every morning. And on Sundays there were markets on the hills of Moufftard and China town was all over the world. Paris was a small city with everything so close together, that the whole city was like your neighborhood. I couldn't speak any French but skating helped me blend in there with my Parisian boys. Thanks to Gauthier and everyone who hung out with us.