Hello!
I'll be moving to Japan in January of 2007. I am a student and I will be living with a host family somewhere around Nagoya. Does anyone know what the longboarding scene in this area of Japan is like? Should I even bring a board (yes)? What can I expect as far as road conditions, topography, etc...

Thanks

-Jason

Hey Jason,

Haven't heard from anybody in Nagoya but have been through there.

Bring your board! With a few minor exceptions, Japan is chock full of hills and smooth pavement. You'll find some nice stuff to carve and who knows maybe a few locals to skate with.

Jan 2007. Way to plan ahead!

Dude.... you were me a year ago. If you don't bring it, you'll kick yourself. Even though I wasn't in the tokyo area either, I still found loads of places to board. so bring it!!!!

P.S. hey sk8! hisashiburi dana!
did you ever get that video together? I havent been on OJ for months. cya guys!

Robato! Brotherman sorry I didn't to yer mail back in Sakura season. Things have been jumping in every way.

Had a good spring of skating but now are into Rainy
Season so basically everything skate related has been rained out in the last two weeks. Kinda sucks.

Got a lot of new stuff in the pipeline though so stoked for the arrival of summer.

Hope yer well and good to hear you had positive stuff to stay.

Your board saved yer ass from being fondled inappropriately by middle aged women if I remember correctly so that is another not-to-be-forgotten advantage of bringing along the deck.

quote:

Originally posted by Sk8 Evangelist:
Jan 2007. Way to plan ahead!

Yeah well... priorities!

Robato-
I didn't realize that last year I was you, and in Japan, no way!! Were you studying through a particular program while in Japan, or just at a University?

I am definitely going to bring a board, but I'm not sure what board I should bring and how I should bring it. Ship it to my host family or check it as luggage? I guess I'll just wait to figure that one out...

Depending on your airline and the amount of other baggage you have, your cheapest bet is to just pack your board up and check it on the plane. I've never had a problem that way. Since they usually limit checked bags to 2 you might have other stuff in which case shipping your board might be a good idea.

Typically it will cost you $50 plus to send a board from overseas so it isn't cheap but it is usually cheaper than paying for an additional piece of luggage from the airline.

As for which board, the difference between one and two boards shipped is almost nill. Space is of a premium and you will probably not want to impose two longboards on your host family or carry two around with you from place to place. I would bring the one you like to ride the most but also the one that is most versatile.

You could always bring one you wouldn't mind selling and try to pawn it off before you return home to save return shipping. You can usually sell a decent used board for 10,000-15,000 yen which is not too far off the price of a new one in North America.

Actually, I was with this program called WYS(sucks)... anyways.....and I went to a highschool in Saitama. it was pretty neat.

Here's what happened for me as far as bringing my board.

My board is the (biggest, most stiffest/longest/huge kick and nose) rocket on wheels ever so It was really hard to put it in a bag. That would have saved a lot of effort and I'd still have it. I wish it was a Bigfish..... HEY SK8! they're 85000 on the site now! they made some crappy ones and I'm gonna get one!
Anyways, I got to the airport with it totally wrapped in an entire roll of industrial size/strength saran wrap. it was pretty much unrecognizable. But I told the lady it was a skateboard anyways and she just said
"Oh well. Since you're a student and all, we let students take snowboards and skis for free." so she just slapped a snowboard sticker on it and that was that.
The other way to go is to completely duct tape the board to the bottom of your bag. especially if it's a hockey bag. Wait.... you're American right? Hockey's that sport with the puck and the net and Carolina's team snatching the Stanely Cup from my hometown......IT WAS A 3-1 LOSS! HOW BAD IS THAT!.......
Sorry about that tangent. Basically what I was trying to say was if it's a long bag.
So..... when I was going home though, I went through and they said "Hey Kid! we dont take kindly to your type around here!" In a perfect Texas accent. They asked me what it was.
I said "hmmm......Snowboard?"
"Oh! in that case it's gonnna cost you an extra 4000 yen because it's NOT a skateboard."
Well they caught me in my little web of lies and I ended up just saying no way! 7000 yen to bring back a 11000 yen deck? I'll just buy a new one.
So I left it at my host mom's house. I wonder if she goes on any secret late-night sesions..... as for now, I've got massive trucks, wheels and 2 inch risers on a pool deck and it's so awesome! but I still want a Bigfish.
My friend however sent both his short and long together by boat for 5000yen. It did take a month without skating to get it back though.


So there you go. Oh and my friend that I said there, he went to Aichi too. I'm pretty sure he found some flow while he was there. He also fell really bad and his host familly freaked out. HAHAHA!