Intermezzo #52: Tees and Trains

I was visiting an event of historic trains called "Sporen naar het Verleden" ("Tracks to the Past") a week ago. As long as I can remember I love trains and riding in them. Above you can see me posing before the "Red Devil". Actually my friend and huge G-Shock collector Yamazaru-san from Kyoto is also a train lover. I had made a movie of this event and showed it my friend DougFNJ (expect a new article from him here soon) he told me I should post it here on 50 Gs. Well, not sure why. You probably only see Bram his blue metallic DW-6900. Well, if you like trains, here some footage of the event. Sorry about the predictable music...

If you are mad about (historic) trains too, check out my posts on my Japanese weblog (with English translation): 

Tracks to the past 2012: prt 1

Tracks to the past 2012: prt 2

Tracks to the past 2012: prt 3

Tracks to the past 2012: prt 4

My friends at Kiks TYO and Sneaker Freaker are releasing a collaboration Tee. Kiks TYO uses a full print on the back for the first time. It's a must have for the real Sneaker Freaks. Did you ever read the Sneaker Freaker interview with me?

Also returned are the Summer Lucky Packs. You can choose between a ¥5000 and a ¥10000 Lucky Pack. I am a big fan of those lucky packs, simply because you never know what you get. I have bought several Lucky Packs in the past and was always pretty satisfied of the content.

Did you check your soles? Kiks Tyo now has a Tee inspired by the sole (soul?) of the AJX Jordan. I have no idea which sneaker this is, but the result is cool! Between the lines you find timeline facts of Michael Jordan. Pretty cool detail.

Well, back to the keyboard. Need to write the next G-Shock article for Sunday.

Intermezzo #45: Greetings from G-Peopleland!

Yeah! I made it! The article about the Revman last week was the last G-Shock article for 2011. Earlier this year I have been in doubt if I could go on for a next 50 models or would do a sabbatical year and start in 2013 totally over again. Although I have over 500 G-Shocks (next year I might even break through the 600 barrier), I have quite a lot of models double (one for the collection, one for wearing fun). Also there are of course special models from different series that are based on the same basic model. There have been quite a few DW-6900’s passed in the past  years.

According the post list of 50 Gs, 270 articles were written since January 2008. Most of them were from my hand, but there are also, of course, the articles of guests. I hope I can invite some of these guest to do an article next year (I think Martback and I had still something in the pipeline). 2013 is a special year for G-Shock, but I expect that, like in 2007, the first 30^th Anniversary models will appear in the dawn of the celebration in 2012. Next year II will probably grab back a few times to models that have already passed the revue on 50. I think that will be not such a problem. I think G-Shock got gained a lot of new fans last year who not only like to read about the newest models, but also like to learn about the long history of G-Shock models.

I’m of course curious what models I will buy in 2012. I have bought only 39 G-Shocks this year, but If you keep in mind that under these G-Shocks were a MR-G Frogman, a Revman and an unused Men In Yellow Frogman, you probably can imagine I didn’t had too much funds to buy more G-Shocks. On my wanted list are the Matte Dial series models (I only have the pink version), the forthcoming red Blue Tooth model and maybe the metal GW-3500 Sky Cockpit model. Let’s see if I can acquire these next year, and review them here of course.

So did other interesting things happen in G-Peopleland? I have always my eyes open on interesting T-Shirts and music. 2011 was the year I finally found the LP “Go Weird”by the Wibbley Brothers from 1982. I had been looking for this album since its release, but I live a bit in the outback here and back in those days there was only the wireless . I hope Ronnie and Terrie Wibbley will release this album also on CD in the near future.

I still haven’t bought the new album of Justice, but I very much liked the first single of the album, “Audio, Video, Disco”. Since I saw someone referring to this song (and Justice’s  French pronunciation of the title) as “Oreoooooo, Oreooooo, Oreoooo, Video, Disco” the song only excist as such in my head. Again a great video by SoMe.

My Friend Hilde from Delft passed me this video last week. I have to be honest that I would use computers to get this effect, but it’s much greater to see this visually. It reminds me to the scratcher of our band. He also could scratch faster than his shadow. 

For those who follow my Japanese weblog (well, nowadays the texts are normally both in Japanese as in English), you probably have seen I got a big Lego Millennium Falcon from Saint Nicolas earlier this month. A week ago, after I had finished my 50th 50 Gs article, I had finally time to build this spaceship. Of course I had a timer and a camera pointed on me building this set and I made a Stop Motion movie of the building process. Now I see that moustache... I'm glad I got rid of it a few weeks ago, ha ha.

This autumn my friends at Kiks TYO made a collaboration Tee with the urban fashion shop Gorilli in Rotterdam. I read the Gorilli blog from time to time, who come up with nice items from time to time. Unfortunately I couldn’t go to the Nigel Sylvester release party a few months ago at Gorilli, because I would have liked to be there very much. Well, I also had missed a meeting with Dee and Ricky in Amsterdam last week.  

Also from Kiks TYO I got a very nice Duck Camo thermo lined Hoody. I might be ordering their Landscape Logo and 44Klash collab shirt in the near future. I also keep an eye open to their Lucky Package deals. These package deals will be sold on their website around New Year. It’s a great way to add some new shirts to your collection.

Well, that’s enough text for this year I guess. From G-Peopleland I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a G-Reat New Year. À bientôt!

Intermezzo #38: Asking a little help from my reading friends!

 I am a big fan of KIKS TYO clothing, but since I buy a lot of G-Shocks, so I can review them for you here, I hardly have money left to buy new clothes. KIKS TYO has a contest on Facebook. If you put a photo of you in Kiks TYO clothing on their fan page, you should try to get as much "like"s as possible.  The winner gets a package of clothing. Well, I can use some new stuff. Please go to this photo on Facebook and like my photo before April 30th. Hopefully I win, so I don't have to spend money on clothing and buy more G-Shock's, that I can review here :-)

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Intermezzo #36: KIKS TYO Charity "Hope Japan" T-Shirt.

I had seen several known brands having a special T-Shirt release to support the Japanese Red Cross. FUMI posted several shirts about a week ago. When I saw these shirts, I contacted KIKS TYo if they were also going to release a charity T-Shirt. I soon got a reply they were working on it, but it was delayed, because of the exhibition of the Summer Collection 2011. Yesterday Hiro Ueno posted the concept of the shirt on Facebook. Now it's available both in the Japanese as the International KIKS TYO webshop.I have ordered mine. If I have some spare money next month and the shirt is still available, I will buy one for my son too.

Other known brands with charity T-Shirts supporting the Japanese Red Cross are Stussy's "One World, One Love, One Heart",  HTML's "One for All Japan Unity" and Neighborhood's "You are not alone".

(photo by FUMI)

There are many ways to support the Japanese Red Cross, but I think, as a big T-Shirt lover, that combining charity with something you love is a good combination.  Of course all profits of the T-Shirts of these brands go for 100% to the Japanese Red Cross. 

Photo above: Bernard Vercouteren van den Berge

Here some photo's of a meeting I had with Hiro Ueno (International Director) and Hobby:tech (Founder) at the KIKS TYO Head Office in Shibuya, Tokyo.

The press machine operator at KIS TYO, cleaning up around the printing unit. He's the guy who prints all these prints on your KIKS TYO shirts. Below the printing unit of KIKS TYO. They are very proud with this machine. It's is the highest quality printer for textile available and there are only a few (2?) of them in Japan. Another great guy around the office is Ro, who does most of the international communication ans shipping. He's a great guy. Although I met him for only about an hour, it was like I met my lost brother.

Intermezzo #24 KIKS TYO has done it again!

I normally wear T-Shirts at work, so I try to get interesting shirts from all over the world. I love the KIKS TYO clothing brand. They combine sneaker fashion with humorous prints. I receive their newslettesr, so can I see when new shirts will come out.

At the moment I try to save money for a trip to Japan, so it's unfortunately more looking than buying. Still I want to share with you some of the newest KIKS TYO shirts. I think KIKS TTYO has released some great new designs this spring. Definitively worth a look.

First of all, in a limited edition of 100 pieces a shirt for the World Championship Soccer 2010. The colors of guest country South Africa can be found thoughout the whole print.The girl on the photo is model and actress Yuki Hoashi. Check out that bikini, even that has a football design.

 I can't place this image above. I know I have seen the original image before. I first thought it was taken from an album of The Smiths, but it isn't. The shirt also comes in black. I am pretty tempted to buy this one.

Jimbow has designed a new shirt. I bought the "girl at the arcade game" a year ago. I love bicycles. Tempted for this one too.

Not only in blue. I love Oreo cookies and I prefer dark chocolate... One delicious tee. Yummy!

I have the shirt with the astronaut holding a bunch of sneakers during a space walk. This "Small Step for Man" shirt is great too. What will be next? A flying sneaker floating away from a spaceship like  "2010, a Sneaker Odyssey"?

Store in a cool place... Sooo COOOOL...

I think many readers of my weblog above the age of 30 will remember the De La Soul album "3 feet High and Rising". A pitty the shirt is not made in bright yellow or pink, like the CD and vinyl.

Check out this cool stuff at: Kiks Tyo International Shop



Update 1: The album cover of the fallen flowers is from De La Soul: "De La Soul is Dead".

Update 2: After writing this intermezzo KIKS TYO has already added new items. One is their great Summer Lucky Pack. For 5000 yen you get a selection of KIKS TYO items worth over 15000 yen.

Intermezzo #21 So I made it to 50th G, now what...

I am still quite amazed I did it again. Writing 50 articles about G-Shock's. Frankly the models to write about have thinned out drastically, but there are a few I want to write for some long time. I still have to make an appointment with half a twin to make a nice photo shoot, although, I think it's better to do it when it's warmer (May, June?). I got some new DVD's in. My friend Anicar recommended the movie "Ramen Girl"., As I like ramen and soba (there goes my mouth drewling again) very much, so I am curious about the movie. It's sad that the actress Brittany Murphy recently died at a young age.
Have you by the way read the interview with me that Sneaker Freaker Magazine did? I felt very honored. I like to thank Anthony for the great time. I heard a little present is on the way for me. A quite rare present, it's actually amazing Anthony managed to get it for me. I hope it arrives soon. It's G-Shock related, so I might show it here first!
So beside watching movies (two new episodes of Doctor Who are coming on the BBC soon!), what do I do with so much free time. I thought writing an small article about what I am doing and dreaming about. I want to visit Japan next year, so I have to cut deep into my G-Shock budget. I already did a bit in 2009. I "only" bought 47 G-Shocks. I think I am going to limit myself to maximal 1 G-Shock per month. Japan is an expensive country and my job as Technical Educating Assistant is great to do, but not paying very well. I have one dream, a quite expensive holy grail that is. The new GWF-1000 Frogman. Well, if limiting to so little G-Shock's, it must be possible to get one. I read that a lot of people like the B version more. It is of course a matter of personal preference, but actually I like the basic model. The better for my wallet. Of course I already broke my own promise. I bought a very special rare and wanted model. It will probably arrive somewhere after New Year. All I will reveal is that it is again a DW-6900 model, one that I wanted for a long time in exact the right color I wanted it. I bought it from a very good friend of me in Singapore (thanks Sky!)
Meanwhile I am looking around for great T-Shirts. I am a huge fan of Hook Ups, the skateboard brand by Jeremy Klein. I missed a very nice print this year. I thought I found one T-Shirt size XL in California, but this shirt can't be found anywhere on the internet. Since it is hard to find Hook Ups in Europe, I gave up. Jeremy, if you are reading this and you have a spare XL of the "Bamboo Forest", give me a call! I think the print is quite different from other Hook Ups prints. I used to watch the "Samurai Jack" cartoons on tv. The evil god Aku (Evil in Japanese) was sometimes presented as a black bamboo forest. I first though it was a naked girl, but it seems more like the tight outfit Uma Thurman was wearing in Kill Bill.
Talking about tight outfits. It seems that Uffie is wearing very tight suits lately. Not quite sure I like it, but if she feels confident walking around like that, let it be. No, then her new records. Lately her hit "Pop the Glock" was released as an remix EP (on Ed Banger of course). I didn't manage to find some previews of the remixes, but I am quite interested in the remix of Felix the Housecat. And for €8.- you can't this beautiful picture disk go.
There is also more news on Uffie. Her new album " Sex Dreams & Denim Jeans" will finally released early 2010. Let's see how much of it is true. It was actually scheduled early 2009, but I believe it is now for real. For the fans of the Neptunes and N.E.R.D. Pharrel Williams, he will be on the new album of Uffie too (and also on the new album of Casius).
Before " Sex Dreams & Denim Jeans" will be released a 12" will be released, called " MC's can Kiss". Check out this leaked out video.

More great music from France. Actually I heard this album this summer already, but somehow it didn't do much to me. Probably "OK Cowboy" was too deep engraved in my mind, but recently I found this mini-mix of the album. Check this out and make up yourself what you think about it.
Don't ask me why a lot of good music is coming from France. I heard even a rumor that Daft Punk is coming with a new album in 2010. What to think about Legowelt. You might expect it's from Germany (the name means Lego World in German), but it's a one man's act from The Hague. The 12" "Disco Rout" has been an important record in my DJ case for the past years. The music is great, but also the cover art (reminding me of the travel posters of the 20's and 30's of the 20th century) is wonderful. Just recently I discovered that there is also a very beautiful video for this track. A very beautiful piece of art I think. By the way, the album above (only released on CDr) is quite nice too. It is made with sounds of an Amiga and brings back memories from long ago.

Let's go back to T-Shirts. Well, I am still looking for nice pieces. This Parra (below) is looking nice, but frankly at the moment most Rockwell shirts are not that where I am looking for.Then Cool cats. They put out this teaser a week ago for the release of a new series of "Girl 'n Cats" shirts.
I think this is a great photo in this series. I'm not sure, but I think these photo's are from Michael Dupouy of La MJC. I specially like the last shirt. Also "Cats 'n Girls #2" was great, but quite unsuitable to wear at school I think. The artwork is by So Me, house designer of Ed Banger. Well, since we got again stuck in France, let's take a big hop across the world.
Kiks Tyo has done it again. I think it's for the third time that they release "Lucky Packages" this year. I still love the first one, with Aki Hoshino dressed as a Santa KIKS Girl. I love these packages for the surprises, and for the price you always get something interesting. A year ago I got a great heavy weight winter hoodie and some great shirts. There is something about the sizes on the website (it shows only XXL, probably the hardest to get size on Japan, so I think they have to repair that), but I already sent them a message, so I think that problem will be over soon.
If that isn't enough, KIKS TYO also launches 3 limited edition Tees with Yuu Tejima. All three are looking very good and have great artwork. I like the Beetle tee and the artwork on the "White Wings" is awesome. Maybe it was even better if it was printed on a black tee. Most eye catching I think it the "Black Cat" tee, as shown above. Maybe because I'm a real night animal and love cats (see "Girls 'n Cats"above).Meanwhile my Christmas Box hoodie got stuck at the customs. I believe it is released, so maybe tomorrow it will arrive. Probably with a nice Christmas Present bill from the Customs service (let's hope not). I very much like to wear this in time.
From KIKS TYO to another KIKS. Nike took Nike Air a little too serious maybe, with this Bigfoot size model. Well, it's pretty transparent. Luckily this glass house (below) is less drafty.
And since Big Brother is watching you every where, who cares about privacy. I saw a great TV program on the BBC last week. James May, you might probably know from the "Top Gear" series, is presenting a series about fascinations with toys. For this program he and (merely) his team build a house of 3.500.000 lego bricks (mainly 2x4). Not only the house, but also the interior, bed, chairs, toothbrush, razor, knives, toilet and even the cat was made out of Lego bricks.
At the housewarming party a girlfriend arrives and gives James a bar of Lego chocolate . Candy might now be too good for your teeth, but this bar seems very bad for your teeth I think. （笑）
You don't have to tell me Lego is great fun for young and old. I must figure out the drawing for the life size Lego cat. This year I ordered several Seasonal Items of the on-line shop. One of them was the "Winter Toy Shop". Luckily I was in time. It's sold out now and I have seen it on auction on eBay and people bid already with 150% of the original retail price. Also I bought these sporty Santa's. Since quite some snow fell here (which is pretty rare), I took the opportunity to let them play in real snow. Well, That's about all I had in mind to share with you. While writing I stumbled upon this great track. The original track is a French Hip Hop track, but DJ Gero made a very special version and wisely put the rapper out of it(LOL). Just play the track with the volume up.

I wish all G-Shock lovers over the world and other followers of my little blog a great Christmas and a very G-Shocking New Year! A big special shout to Riley @ My G-Shock, everyone at WatchUSeek (WUS), Jurphaas, Albe, Joakim, Sneaker Freaker and Kiks TYO for supporting me. May Santa be good for you all.