If you've been reading my blog for the past 4.5 years, you know I have an interest in Japanese subcultures. I tend not to write about anything I don't photograph, hence the lack of bike gang posts. I can't be riding the motorcycle with a big SLR in hand, snapping shots. One post that comes to mind is here.
Bosozoku are a kind of Japanese bike gang who ride around on heavily modified classic Japanese bikes. They.... damn, just watch this video:
I first read about the Sayonara Speed Tribes project a few years back. I kept it bookmarked, but like most indie films, progress was under a long development. Then, completely randomly, a friend of mine, a translator for the movie industry, invited me to a barbecue and there was Jamie Morris, director of this movie that I had been anticipating. Tokyo is small like that. We became Facebook friends and all that jazz, and I got the inside scoop on the movie.
The project is nearing completion, and they are looking for some help with backing. If you are interested in this sort of thing, hit up their kickstart campaign, some sort of fund raising site:
And leave a comment here if you do. If at least 3 people from this site donate, I'll drive down to Enoshima and make my own post about Bosozoku. Find out what ramen shops they hang out at or something random. Everyone wins!
god i hate these assholes...may they burn their clutches out driving off a cliff en masse into the sea of japan! not that dramatic but the obnoxious noise really pisses me off...
ReplyDeleteotherwise, been reading for a while and dig your blog!
Er... I'm not sure that's exactly the sort of comment that he was looking for. Actually, coincidentally, I was talking with a colleague today who just happened to mention donating money to a Bosozoku movie on Kickstarter. I'm guessing that's that same movie (I can't imagine that there's too many of them being made).
ReplyDeleteActually - to be honest, I have to admit to (as the previous commentor) at being a little annoyed at the bosozoku packs that ride around the cities in the wee hours. They do sound like a swarm of angry (adolescent) bees. Still, it's a sub-culture in it's own right, for good or bad, that can't be ignored in Japan.
And then you've got the Yankees as well... not quite the same thing. Perhaps a prequel?
I hope the project is supported anyhow... it's always good to see different views of Japan.
It made it's goal, so thats good. If you don't like the Bosozoku, then this movie is for you! It's about their decline!
ReplyDeleteCheck out kirisutospachyderm.yolasite.com
ReplyDeleteIf this could be transalated int Japanese maybe it could benefit the Bosozoku