Hunting for boards in Japan

**journeyman** · 10-19-2006 05:30 AM

Spending the day in Tokyo, I decided to stop in at some board shops to see what all they have. I was really astounded to see almost nothing I recognized brand wise. For example, "Carvers" trucks and decks. A lot of the complete boards have Independant trucks. However, the most amazing thing was the pricing!

Think of this, a Sector 9 bamboo pin with stock bearings, stock wheels, independant trucks for over 32,000 yen ($300)!!!! That absolutely astounded me. I thought of looking around at boards here, but ouch! I wonder if it is that bad anywhere else? I found an Arbor Pocket Rocket too, but can't remember the price on it. That is quite the beautiful board...

In any case, I played around with some of the boards I found and I am really excited to get started longboarding when I get back to the states! Just thought I'd share.

**pavedwave** · 10-19-2006 06:43 AM

Check out Murasaki Sports? They tend to have one of the better selections but yeah, they were definately stocked up on Carver since the onset of that brand.

Price-wise, its better to have longboards 'smuggled' to you by a friend when you're over there, just like peanut butter and anti-perspirant - two other precious commodities in short supply for some reason...

**SanchoPancho** · 10-19-2006 08:19 AM

I wish I could visit Japan. How is it? I've heard the cities are super clean, people are nice and reserved. Everything is tiny. How hard would it be for someone from the US to get accustomed to living over there?

***SWEET*** · 10-19-2006 08:42 PM

I go regulary to Japan as my girlfirend is japanese (ill go back there in december) and yes there are some awesome insane spots over there!!
Narrow, steep wih back to back hairpin and all that on the "wrong" side of the road.... just fantastic

Go around Takayama 2 hours drive from Nagoya.... look a t he mountain around you... you can see the roads from the freeway

Ill probably go and live there some day or sure... i guess well end up living in the same places .... I used to live in san Fran... Now I m am in Seattle so pretty close from Vancouver and ill go and live in japan

**Mile_High_Mark** · 10-19-2006 08:49 PM

I was born in Japan, and would love to go back for a visit.

**pavedwave** · 10-19-2006 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by *SWEET*

I go regulary to Japan as my girlfirend is japanese (ill go back there in december) and yes there are some awesome insane spots over there!!

dude thats too wild-- i'll be there mid December! visiting in-laws in Tokyo, it's a bit far from where you'll be, but there is so much to skate in that concrete jungle. And the 'non confrontational' police come in handy, most times they'd rather not hassle with me so I ride pretty much everywhere (around the Tama/Fuchu area.)

and Sancho, if you are open to being absorbed in a culture that is the exact opposite of the U.S. in many ways, you'd love it. being reserved, respectful, yet insanely inquisitive goes a long way. the 'friends' you make there tend to take a longer time to become genuine, but once you bridge that gap they're always there for you later. you get used to everything being smaller and more efficient. it is clean, but theres a good share of dirty and fun places around the big city. one of the coolest things in my suburb were all the 60-80 year-old people out at 6 a.m. picking up litter and raking leaves in the morning in their city uniforms. Those same old people would later pass you up on a mountain hike! we hiked a lot when i lived there as a great escape from the city. if I went back to stay, I'd take tons of extra skate gear and parts, its tricky to come by and limited in selection.

Originally Posted by Mile_High_Mark

I was born in Japan, and would love to go back for a visit.

open december 18th?

**lazynerd** · 10-19-2006 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by pavedwave

dude thats too wild-- i'll be there mid December! visiting in-laws in Tokyo, it's a bit far from where you'll be, but there is so much to skate in that concrete jungle. And the 'non confrontational' police come in handy, most times they'd rather not hassle with me so I ride pretty much everywhere (around the Tama/Fuchu area.)

and Sancho, if you are open to being absorbed in a culture that is the exact opposite of the U.S. in many ways, you'd love it. being reserved, respectful, yet insanely inquisitive goes a long way. the 'friends' you make there tend to take a longer time to become genuine, but once you bridge that gap they're always there for you later. you get used to everything being smaller and more efficient. it is clean, but theres a good share of dirty and fun places around the big city. one of the coolest things in my suburb were all the 60-80 year-old people out at 6 a.m. picking up litter and raking leaves in the morning in their city uniforms. Those same old people would later pass you up on a mountain hike! we hiked a lot when i lived there as a great escape from the city. if I went back to stay, I'd take tons of extra skate gear and parts, its tricky to come by and limited in selection.

open december 18th?

Good stuff. I'll keep this in mind when I head there after college (through JET programme). Plenty o boards & extra skate stuff, check.

Did you run across a lot of other Japanese longboarders??

**lsdmt** · 10-20-2006 12:05 AM

there are some riders in Japan but most of them are in tokyo. Check out www.outdoorjapan.com for session info and spots to ride. Was raised in Japan and will be back there as soon as I graduate from college.

**TokyoGator** · 10-20-2006 01:33 AM

I've been living in Tokyo for 4 years now and longboarding for just 1 year. The prices are ridiculous partially because they put those expensive ass "thrasher" front trucks on them. The Oshman's in Harajuku has some Gravity and GFH boards, but make sure to bring a hacksaw with you so you can give them your arm and your leg for a board. Everything longboarding and surfing related here is 2-3 times the price in the states.

Almost everytime I go back to the US, I pick up either a longboard or a surfboard. Its the only affordable way to build a quiver. People actually fly to Hawaii to buy a surfboard or two because the price of the airline ticket and 2 boards at US prices is still cheaper than 2 boards at Japan prices...and you get to chill in Hawaii for a few days.

**The hippie from skog�s** · 10-20-2006 02:15 AM

And I thought Japan had cheap prices...

**bean-a-reano** · 10-20-2006 02:34 AM

A lab instructor I had said that JApenese women love American guys. Any truth to that?

**The hippie from skog�s** · 10-20-2006 02:52 AM

Originally Posted by bean-a-reano

A lab instructor I had said that JApenese women love American guys. Any truth to that?

It's true...and why? I think you can easily figure it out...

***SWEET*** · 10-20-2006 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by bean-a-reano

A lab instructor I had said that JApenese women love American guys. Any truth to that?

The college where I'm at is made by 50% of foreigners and A LOT of asians in general...
All of my friends (most of them being french tooo) including me, are going out with a chinese, a taiwanese or a japanese girl...
None of them is dating an american or a french or an other western country girl...

And Hippie.. no it's not because of that

Originally Posted by pavedwave

dude thats too wild-- i'll be there mid December! visiting in-laws in Tokyo

I'll probably go and spend a few days in Tokyo around X-mas but I bet my girlfriend will kill me if I start begging her to let me for a day

ride (eventhough she has a board and she rides too)

**EBasil** · 10-20-2006 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by bean-a-reano

A lab instructor I had said that JApenese women love American guys. Any truth to that?

You're outta luck, buddy. They only like the ones that bathe.

**bean-a-reano** · 10-20-2006 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by EBasil

You're outta luck, buddy. They only like the ones that bathe.

........

**The hippie from skog�s** · 10-20-2006 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by *SWEET*

And Hippie.. no it's not because of that

Are you sure?

**Slim** · 10-20-2006 03:10 PM

It sounds like there are several of us with connections to Japan who travel there often. I lived there for most of the 90s. I tend to make a trip over every year or so and I'll post before I go next time to see if any of you all will be around or if there is anything I can bring over for you locals.

**A-Drain** · 10-21-2006 01:56 AM

[Think of this, a Sector 9 bamboo pin with stock bearings, stock wheels, independant trucks for over 32,000 yen ($300)!!!! ..... I wonder if it is that bad anywhere else?

You should try getting stuff to Australia!!!! Freight kills you (how does US$600 freight on 15 Kebbek decks sound to you?), so too do import duties, customs inspection charges, quarantine, GST, etc. A Sector 9 here ranges from AU$375-450.

To give you an idea it cost me AU$700 to get 7 Wefunk decks into this country and that was after the decks and freight had been paid for, that was just the duties and fees to get them through customs/quarantine!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta love the Government!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

A-Drain

**XPLOAD** · 10-21-2006 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by A-Drain

[Think of this, a Sector 9 bamboo pin with stock bearings, stock wheels, independant trucks for over 32,000 yen ($300)!!!! ..... I wonder if it is that bad anywhere else?

You should try getting stuff to Australia!!!! Freight kills you (how does US$600 freight on 15 Kebbek decks sound to you?), so too do import duties, customs inspection charges, quarantine, GST, etc. A Sector 9 here ranges from AU$375-450.

To give you an idea it cost me AU$700 to get 7 Wefunk decks into this country and that was after the decks and freight had been paid for, that was just the duties and fees to get them through customs/quarantine!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta love the Government!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

A-Drain

agreed, that is what stopped me ordering the guitar parts from the states that i wanted. it would have ended up costing me more for the freight, import taxes, quarantine etc that for the actual parts.

**pavedwave** · 10-22-2006 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by lazynerd

Did you run across a lot of other Japanese longboarders??

When I was living there I didn't, but then I returned in '97 to the states and got thoroughly addicted from there on, so when I make trips back I always take a board or two. Theres a much more active scene there now, outdoorjapan.com's the way to find out whats up. This December I'll either be meeting some guys to carve with, or try to find that Yokohama crew that slaloms.