HISTORY OF JAPAN - MUST WATCH

IF YOU ARE: Japanese, part Japanese, like Japanese cars and trucks, used to think manga girls were kinda hot (you fucking nerd), you must watch this video. No, seriously, watch this. I know you got time while taking a dump.

TOKYO BREAKFAST

Probably my favorite shop in Japan, Shop Sam's, has opened another location in Tokyo in addition to his original Sendai location. He says rent is ridiculously high but knuckles and pans are abundant, just like a vintage bike museum.

So there was a "breakfast" meet they had in that metropolis and he shared a few photos. 

Arigato Osamu-san!

DRUNK JAPANESE SALARYMAN

Remember this post from about 2 years ago?

Here's another one spotted by Shin:

TAMAGO KAKE GOHAN

Submitted by Shin

Tamago Kake Gohan rules! [literally meaning 'egg over rice' in Japanese].

Had this at Sukiya. Basic TKG set is 190yen ($2.40)! I had Tonjiru set so is 250yen ($3.15). These are served only for breakfast. Good to start a day with a healthy breakfast.

I don't know what people think of raw egg eating in US.

BAGGERS FOR OOMPA LOOMPAS

Submitted by Shin:

Yes, it's a 50cc Honda Monkey.

TONKATSU TIME

Tonkatsu - the Japanese pork cutlet. As many other things in Japan, they've brought it to their own perfection. You can bet that this tonkatsu was good, it looks it and the portions look unusually big too.

The guys from our Tokyo office went on a little Tonkatsu Adventure, as Shin-chan reports, "Near the train station, Takamatsu-san found a really nice tonkatsu restaurant. Big juicy tonkatsu filled out stomachs with very good taste!"

"The restaurant is called SHINWA. Photo taken above is priced at 730yen. Tonkatsu sauce tastes likes its home made."

"Your stomach will explode if you order omori gohan (extra rice) for sure. Regular rice is already almost omori!"

In case you were wondering, tonkatsu traditionally comes with shredded cabbage, rice and miso soup. Looks like they had pickled veggies on the side too. I'm jealous!

LUNCH AT HIDAKAYA

The guys at our Tokyo office taking the 12 piece gyoza challenge for lunch with chicken karaage on the side.

THIRSTY

Submitted by Nos.

EVERYTIME I COME AROUND THE CORNER BLING BLING

I'd sometimes see these custom trucks when I'd visit relatives in Japan as a little kid. It was a trip seeing them back then and still is now. 

I didn't know kids did it to their bicycles though.

CHOPPER JOURNAL #2

Hardcore Chopper magazine has morphed into Chopper Journal.
Same staff, more coverage.

Issue #2 coming soon.

PUSHING AHEAD IN SENDAI

A few things from Shop Sam's in Sendai City, Japan.

His new project, "Rickman Kawasaki ZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!"

Here's a few shots of his Panhead all buttoned up.

Last but not least, his'72 Nova 396.

YOKAROU - TOKYO, JAPAN

Submitted by Shin

Riding my shitty scooter almost full throttle to go to YOKAROU. That is Tokyo Tower.

30min park for 100yen ($1.25).

Ok, parked my scooter and ready to go in YOKAROU.

Ordered the "DANDANMEN" which is their standard. it was too early to have dinner so only few people were there. Look at salary man on right, playing games with his cell phone.

I was gonna eat it right away but I remembered to take a photo. In the photo, it seems oily but its not! smell of this DANDANMEN makes me more hungry.

I can't describe exact the taste. It is YUMMY but bit different compared to standard tantanmen. There are many style of Tantanmen but this is something totally different and once you had you will never forget and miss this Dandanmen.

It's lil bit hot/spicy taste, a bit sour and I  think coconuts milk and Japanese citron makes great taste. Other than that, I don't know what in it.Tastes great anyway. Broke a little sweat while eating it! 

Pickled radish on the rice.
You can take as much as you want.
Endless bowls of rice too.

CHAR SIU!

you must know this ramen is not typical one.
juuuust this lil piece of char siu.
You will know if big char siu came with it, it will destroy this soup's flavour and taste.
So THIS IS PERFECT!

Roppongi main street. This place has changed.
I worked in Roppongi for about 5 or 6 years.
Had drink almost every night after work.

Pretty sad, many nice bars, restaurants, and clubs were gone.

Nowadays, Nigerians, Ghana's and others Africans are standing on the side walk for dirty biz.
They pretend to be they are from America.
Hate that shit.

Roppongi is the most memorable place for me.
When I came back to Japan, this place was only the place that I could be myself.

MUKASHI

Click here for more amazing photos.

Submitted by Shin.

SHOP SAM'S RIDE TO FUKUSHIMA

Osamu aka Sam over at Shop Sam's and his homies got together for a ride to Fukushima.

I dig all the bikes that come out of this shop.

Every single one of them.

Traditional, simplistic patterns of what a chopper should look like. In my eyes to say the least.

No funny business with ultra-rare parts.

I always thought that choppers should be made mostly out of spare parts.

Bikes I've built for myself have been that way.

Check out Sam's panhead below. This is the one he'd been building, which you may have seen here before.

[big mahalos to Sam for the photos!]