I was in San Francisco earlier this week visiting with some friends from Japan. Rip (on the left) has been all over the US this past month showcasing for Gentemstick snowboards. These boards are some of the most unique I’ve seen and are shaped to give a feel closer to surfing. Here are some photos from the night of the exhibition.

If you’re in Tokyo this November, check out Rip Zinger’s new work at the Slope Gallery in Shibuya.

As anticipated, we are now carrying products from W-BASE Bicycle Garage, including tees and various accessories. Big thanks to Moto, Yohei, Rip, and the rest of the W-Base crew for your kindness and hospitality.

Also, I am excited to announce the arrival of a new Black Dallas x Usugrow collaboration from Japan – “Scarface”

Yesterday we made it out to W-Base Bicycle Garage to visit the crew. These guys have been pushing BMX and fixed gear riding at their shop in Harajuku going on five years now.

Outside the shop.

We took a group photo of us with some of the staff, Ichigo (SAGLiFE), Yohei, Moto (W-Base), and Rip (Rip Zinger).

Wednesday was a busy one, too much for one post. I’ll update everyone soon.

It’s good to know that even in a place as different and far away as Japan you can still feel at home sometimes. Today we stopped by FTC Tokyo and hung out for a bit. As you’d expect, good people, dope product, and these guys are all about skateboarding.

You might recognize FTC team rider Zizow (far right) if you’ve watched him killing it in Western Edition 3.


Thank you FTC TYO

What up FTC SAC !

While Magic begins in Vegas and school begins for many around the country, the LL team is in Tokyo for the next week and a half. Political transition, Asahi, 7 Stars, zombies…there should be some good blog entries ahead. To our friends in the area, be sure to hit them up.

Not to worry…it will be business as usual at the shop.

Last Thursday, Corbin and I headed down I-80 to the FIFTY24SF gallery for the Shinganist show, curated by Usugrow, featuring work by Toshikazu Nozaka, Mozeskey, Bene, Jun Kaneko, and Usugrow himself. The show had a large turnout, including an appearance by my (unbeknownst to him) cousin Robin Williams (glad to see him out and about).

It was exciting to see some of Usugrow’s newer pieces for the first time. You might recognize a few of these from the shop, in the form of Black Dallas tees (which quickly sold out).

Toshikazu Nozaka’s work also stood out to me (if anyone has six grand laying around, please buy this for me).

Inspired by the event, we’ve decided to re-release a limited number of Usugrow x Black Dallas tees, beginning today.

Furukawa Taku’s Speed

I was first put on to Furukawa by Professor Jonathan Hall at UC Irvine. The first time I saw Coffee Break, my mind was blown. Too ill. Now if I can just find a copy…

This doesn’t touch the Leilow Blog, but I did find a pretty rad vintage item while cleaning out my closet earlier.

Orix Blue Wave Ichiro cap from the 1990s. The Blue Wave eventually merged with the Kintetsu Buffaloes, and are now known as the Orix Buffaloes.