storm from the east

Review: Swami's Surf Co t-shirt

I recently mentioned bespoke surfboard maker Swami's and the company was kind enough to send me a t-shirt, which I've been getting a lot of wear out of ever since. As with all reviews, I like to use the product for a while before making any pronouncements and with this shirt I like what I've found so far.

Swami's pride themselves on making products that are limited and environmentally responsible and their clothing is no exception, with this t-shirt being 100% cotton, printed with water-based screen inks, produced to eco standards Oekotex100 & REACH and free from any harmful substances to either humans or the planet.

Aside from the eco-credentials, the shirt itself is lightweight and the material is super smooth, yet it has proven to be durable so far - two skateboard spills and a hit-and-run while riding my bike and not a mark. The attention to detail is also something that sets this brand apart from other surf companies, from the initials of the potential owners being carved into surfboards to the trimmings on the shirts. The design is minimal - just as I like it - and the overall look is very cool.

I'm a fan.

You can get your own Swami's goods here:

http://www.swamisurf.com/shop/

If you would like us to review your goods, please contact us at: editor[at]storm-from-the-east[dot]com

Sumo in upheaval

Japan's ancient sport of sumo is making the headlines once again for all the wrong reasons. In the last few years, the sport has seen a bullying yokozuna being forced into retirement, wrestlers kicked out for smoking marijuana, and a young wrestler bullied and beaten to death. The latest scandal involves a group of wrestlers who have been betting illegally on baseball games. Ozeki Kotomitsuki and stablemaster Otake have been at the forefront of the allegations, but a total of twenty-six wrestlers and sumo elders have been suspended from the upcoming Nagoya Basho (tournament).

Kotomitsuki, pictured, is to be kicked out of the sport following his involvement, which is an ignoble exit for a popular wrestler - he is the favourite wrestler of the young Princess Aiko. His dismissal also means that, unbelievably, there is only one Japanese wrestler fighting in the top two ranks of Yokozuna or Ozeki, and that is veteran Kaio, who at thirty-seven years old is very much in the twilight of his career.

The Nagoya Basho will now be held, despite worries that it would be cancelled in the wake of the scandal, and NHK - the national broadcasting corporation - will screen the tournament as usual. Whatever happens, the sport needs a good shakeup.

Hopefully this will expose the mismanagement and arrogance that has been blighting the sport and bring some much needed dignity back.

HH

Swami's Surf

Swami's is a new breed of surf company with a very stylish and mature approach to the surfer lifestyle.

Hailing from and made in England, the brand upholds the traditions of classic English craftsmanship combined with a pure and exclusive aesthetic sense, they are fast becoming the hip and cool of the surf world, the main attraction being their exclusive hand made surfboards (made by some of the worlds top shapers) with something rarely seen in surfing; really awesome graphics.

For their boardshorts they have teamed up with luxury swimwear brand, Orlebar Brown on a limited edition boardshort collection. In addition, the beachwear line includes silk scarves, hand loomed blankets, T-shirts and sterling silver rings.

As with the surfboards, craftsmanship and aesthetics are at the core of the collection, and because the environment is a key consideration for surfers, ecological decisions have played a big role in the creation of the pieces too. The company uses vegetable dyes, ahimsa silk (which doesn't kill the silk worms in the production process) and water based inks, while working with UK craftsmen and NGOs in India to forge ethical ways of manufacturing Swami's goods.

"We have a slightly 'endless summer' way of going about things," says Swami's Giles Dunn "and try to bring out fresh and original products from time to time. I guess it's a reaction to the over saturated homogenized market that's out there."

There's an argument that surfing isn't a sport at all but an art form in its own right, Swami's seems to be pushing the boundaries between design, function and art in their own unique way.

Swami's made on high boards and threads are available exclusively at:

www.swamisurf.com

International Surfing Day

Tomorrow is International Surfing Day.

Founded in 2005 by Surfing Magazine and the Surfrider Foundation, International Surfing Day is a worldwide celebration of the sport of surfing. This is your chance to get wet, grab some waves and give back to our Mother Ocean by participating in any one of the events taking place at 214 separate locations in 26 countries across the globe.

So grab your board and head to the beach!

Learn more about ISD: http://www.intlsurfingday.com

Six of the best: World Cup logos

With the World Cup upon us, what better time to have a look at some great World Cup logos?

Here are our top six:

Uruguay 1930: The first one and it's great. How good would that look on a t-shirt? 

Time for a dose of reality for Japan football

Japan lost to local rivals South Korea for the second time in a year Monday night, losing 2-0 and once again raising serious questions about manager Takeshi Okada's aim of reaching the best four in the upcoming World Cup.

To be honest, neither side really dominated, but it was Manchester United player Park Ji Sung who looked the class act, scoring a well-taken goal in the sixth minute. In reality, it will be a great achievement for Japan to make it out of their group, and Park has said the same about his own team's chances, yet Okada is doggedly sticking to his goal of reaching the semi finals. While it's great to be ambitious, it's also good to remain realistic, something that Keisuke Honda clearly has problems with - he has suggested that Japan could win the World Cup. I agree; it is a possibility. If none of the other teams turn up.

I'm Japanese, so of course I want my national team to do well, but do I really think they can best the likes of Portugal, Spain, Holland, Italy, France, Brazil, England, etc, etc? No. I'm a fan, but I'm also a realist. It's time for the national team to temper their ambitions with some humility and reality.

HH

Japan's World Cup squad named

Takeshi Okada, the manager of Japan's national football team, has announced his 23-man squad for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa, sticking with a squad that fans in Japan have become used to seeing. Perhaps the only suprise was not including Shinji Ono who has been impressive upon his return to Japanese football.

The most experienced member of the squad is goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, who is currently recovering from a broken leg but should be fit for the tournament, although fans will also be looking towards players like Shunsuke Nakamura and Junichi Inamoto to bring some experience and flair to the side as both have played in the Word Cup before. In fact, experience seems to be the key, as only five of the players named for the squad are under 25, compared with seven members who are aged 30 or over.

Japan face a stiff test right from the get-go, however, as their group includes Holland, Cameroon and Denmark, all of which are currently some places above Japan in the FIFA rankings - especially Holland. This means that even getting past the first round will be a great achievement for the team, yet Okada is sticking to his goal of finishing the tournament as one of the best four. When you consider that in 2006 the best four teams were Italy, Germany, France and Portugal, the reality of the current Japan squad being able to match them seems optimistic at best, downright bonkers at worst. International friendlies against arch-nemesis South Korea, England and the Ivory Coast should give fans a better clue of what to expect when the tournament proper begins.

Hopefully it will give Japanese fans something to cheer about.

Hiromitsu Honda

Hakuho wins, Baruto to be promoted

Yokozuna Hakuho has won his 13th Emperor's Cup in emphatic fashion after finishing with a 15-0 record in the spring sumo basho.

Now the sole Yokozuna following the recent retirement of Asashoryu, Hakuho dominated the basho proving that he is still very much the man to beat. In the final bout he beat compatriot Harumafuji to close with a perfect record.

In other sumo news, Estonian Sekiwake Baruto, pictured right, is all but guaranteed promotion to sumo's second highest rank of Ozeki following an outstanding run of tournaments. The popular and cheerful wrestler will be only the second European to fight as an Ozeki, following Bulgarian Kotooshu.

Baruto, a former nightclub bouncer whose real name is Kaido Hoovelson, finished this basho with a 14-1 record, his only loss coming to Hakuho.

With Baruto's promotion, the top ranks of sumo are now dominated by non-Japanese wrestlers. There has been no Japanese Yokozuna since Takanohana retired in 2003 and the Japanese Ozeki are set to be outnumbered by foreign-born wrestlers 3-2.

Kameda loses, 'Cosplay fighter' wins

Images: REUTERS/Toru Hanai / FEG inc.

Japan's Koki Kameda has lost his WBC flyweight title to hard-hitting former champion Pongsaklek Wongjongkam. Kameda, a brash and polarising figure in Japan, predicted a 'reign of terror' when he took the title from countryman Daisuke Naito four months ago, but his reign ended abruptly at his first defence.

The fighters clashed heads at the start of the fifth round, opening a cut above Kameda's right eye which bled throughout the remainder of the fight. Of the two, Pongsaklek looked more in control and shook Kameda a number of times, most notably in the 11th and 12th rounds. The 32-year-old Thai was awarded the fight 116-112 and 115-112 by two of the ringside judges, with the third surprisingly scoring the contest even at 114-114. It was Kameda's first defeat in his 23 professional fights.

Cross-dressing fighter prevails

If asked to picture a cross-dressing otaku, the image of a champion kick-boxer is probably not the first one that springs to mind, but that is exactly what new K-1 Japan Champion Yuichiro Nagashima is.

Nagashima entered each of his three fights wearing a dress and wig, thronged by a bunch of similarly dressed otaku supporters, but if his opponents thought he was a joke, they were in for a shock. First up was Yuji, who Nagashima knocked out in the first round. Next up was Ryuji, who was dispatched in similar fashion - also in the first round.

The sport that K-1 fighters practise is usually shown beneath their names as they are announced on TV, and Nagashima once again sets himself apart by listing not kick-boxing or Muay-Thai as one would expect, but anime. Regardless, he is becoming a regular on the K-1 scene and if he can improve his stamina and defence more, he could be a serious contender.

His third and final bout was against up-and-coming youngster Hiroki Nakajima and it was clear from the opening bell that it wasn't going to be decided on points. The first and second rounds were slugfests that left both fighters tired and sluggish. The end finally came in the final round when Nagashima caught Nakajima with a right counter, putting the young fighter on the canvas and the trophy into the 'cosplay fighter's' hands.

Andy Warhol x Alien Workshop

Skateboard company Alien Workshop has teamed up with The Andy Warhol Foundation to produce a limited edition set of decks featuring Warhol's iconic Pop works.

Each deck features full dip paint, top and bottom graphics and a collector deckwrap, and the complete set is shipped in custom printed board box packaging inspired by Warhol’s box sculptures from the 1960’s.

The decks are available in spring 2010.

More: http://alienworkshop.com/news/andy-warhol-x-alien-workshop

http://www.warholfoundation.org/

Kim takes gold as Asada takes silver

World champion and overwhelming pre-tournament favourite Kim Yu-Na of South Korea has won the figure skating gold medal in Vancouver, beating main rival Mao Asada of Japan by a massive 23 points. Joannie Rochette of Canada, bravely skating after her mother tragically died before the start of the tournament, won the bronze. Japan's other hope, Miki Ando, was edged out of fourth place by sixteen-year-old Mirai Nagasu, representing USA. 

The women's figure skating has dominated the news in Japan over the last few days, and this is bound to ensure it will continue to do so. Hasn't something also happened with some car company?

Asashoryu retires

Asashoryu, the third most successful wrestler in sumo history, has retired from the troubled sport after allegations he assaulted a man outside a Tokyo night club last month.

“I am proud of being a Yokozuna,” Asashoryu, 29, said, adding that he was retiring in order to take "responsibility for having caused so much trouble”. He declined to comment about the allegations or his future plans. Unlike many foreign sumo wrestlers, Asashoryu has not taken Japanese citizenship, which precludes him from taking any further part in sumo after his retirement as a wrestler.

Asashoryu, whose real name is Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj, made his debut in 1999 and rose quickly, becoming only the third foreigner to become a Yokozuna, following Hawaiians Akebono and Musashimaru. His victory in last month’s tournament was his 25th championship, which places his third on the all-time list behind legends Taiho and Chiyonofuji. Although imperious in the ring, his behavior out of the ring, including scuffles and criticism of other wrestlers, has drawn increasingly negative reactions from coaches, fans and press, who said his actions were not befitting the rank of Yokozuna. He was suspended for two tournaments in 2007 after skipping an exhibition due to injury and later filmed playing soccer in Mongolia with footballer Hidetoshi Nakata.

His retirement leaves sumo once again with a sole Yokozuna, fellow Mongolian Hakuho, and - as stated in an earlier article - comes at a time when the sport is not exactly bursting at the seams with up-and-coming future greats. As Asashoryu was summoned before the sumo association and rumours were circulating that they planned to expel him, it seems to have been a case of jump or be pushed. 

Despite his bad behaviour, Asashoryu remains a very popular wrestler and his retirement is a further blow to a sport already under pressure from waning interest and a lack of home-grown talent.

As Chiyotaikai retires, will the next Japanese sumo star please step forward

Chiyotaikai, the former ozeki has decided to call it quits having lost his final bout against Kaio. Chiyotaikai had been demoted to sekiwake for the New Year Basho, currently underway in Tokyo, and having lost all of his opening bouts, his chances of securing ten wins - thereby ensuring he would regain his ozeki status - were looking increasingly slim. His retirement, however, only adds to more weight the question being asked with increasing regularity: where are the next Japanese sumo stars?

A quick look at the top ranks of sumo, yokozuna, ozeki, sekiwake and komusubi, paints a less than pleasing picture for Japanese fans looking to restore some national pride to their ancient national sport: both yokozuna are Mongolian, only two of the four ozeki are Japanese (Harumafuji is Mongolian and Kotooshu is Bulgarian), Estonian Baruto is currently the sole sekiwake and another Mongolian, Kakuryu, is one of the two komusubi. The last Japanese yokozuna was Takanohana, who retired in 2003, and the latest Japanese wrestler to win a tournament was Tochiazuma back in November 2006. With interest in the sport waning as the domination of Asashoryu and Hakuho continues, many are asking which of the current crop of Japanese wrestlers can challenge them.

Ozeki Kaio, it has to be said, is not likely to be one of them. Rumours of his imminent retirement have been circulating for the last couple of years and, at 37 years old, he surely can't have many more tournaments left in him. He lifted his last Emperor's Cup in 2004 and, as he has recently surpassed legendary yokozuna Chiyonofuji's record of 807 victories in the elite makuuchi division, his motivation to stay active may not be so strong.

Vibram FiveFingers: Redesigning footwear

Some design concepts break the mould and have influence over a wide spectrum of activity, with the Vibram FiveFingers shoes falling squarely into that category. Designed by Robert Fliri and released in 2006, the shoes quickly became something of a cult hit, but the publication of books like Born to Run by Christoper McDougall last year have pushed their popularity through the roof.

There are currently seven models of the FiveFingers available, with more planned, and the uses that people put them to continue to grow. They are used for water sports, yoga, climbing, walking, martial arts and trekking, but it is perhaps the barefoot running community that has embraced them with the most passion. On any website or forum about running barefoot, you are sure to find discussion of Vibram's FiveFingers (VFFs). One site, birthdayshoes.com, is dedicated to them. Even Wired magazine featured them.

So what's all the fuss? Why would you want to wear a funny-looking, not inexpensive pair of shoes with a wafer-thin sole and no support? The main reason is that these shoes mimic the sensation of going barefoot, which many people – especially runners – are claiming not only cuts down on injuries, but also leads to a more efficient, less stressful style of running. Without going into a lot of detail, there is evidence that suggests the built-up heel on modern running shoes could actually lead to the injuries they claim to prevent. At the very least, putting a pair of these on your feet is bound to get you noticed.

The delay in writing about the FiveFingers is mainly because your intrepid editors have been trying these shoes out for the last few months – Richard is currently running up to 15km a time in them and enjoying running for the first time in his life, while Ryo is sporting them on the streets of Paris, Milan and New York. We're loving them. And that's the point.

These shoes may represent a paradigm-shift in footwear design, they may change the way we think about running, they may look crazy and they may be tricky to get on an off (at first), but at the end of the day, the one thing that all their owners seem to agree on is this: they're great fun.

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/

Masato beats Souwer in last fight

Masato, Japan's most-successful kick-boxer, has brought his illustrious thirteen-year career to an end with a win over Holland's Andy Souwer.

The fight was a rare five round K-1 match, which gave Masato's legions of fans an extended opportunity to see him in action; and action they got. In stark contrast to some of the other out of shape fighters on the less-than Dynamite line-up, both Masato and Souwer showed why they are both worthy ex-champions.

Masato took the first round, with the second and third more even. The fourth, however, saw Souwer put down by a right counter, although he quickly recovered and came back strongly against Masato for the rest of the round and in the fifth. Masato was ahead on points all the way and took the fight by decision. Immediately after the result was announced, Souwer hoisted Masato onto his shoulders in a display of sportsmanship and respect, and afterward, the retiring thirty-year-old received gifts from well-wishers - including Souwer and his son - and signed autographs for waiting fans.

The night also saw the MMA debut of judo gold medallist Satoshi Ishii, whose fight with forty-year-old Hidehiko Yoshida was a pretty lacklustre affair which, more than anything, showed that both lack stamina.

Tony Hawk: RIDE

Skateboarding and design are two things very close to our hearts, so when we heard that two giants of these respective fields - Tony Hawk and Yves Behar - had worked together, it was enough to pique our interest.

'RIDE' is a groundbreaking wireless skateboard controller designed by Behar for the new Tony Hawk: RIDE video game. Using a combination of accelerometers and motion sensors, the intuitive controller allows players to physically control the action by performing various movements and gestures on the board that directly translate into amazing tricks in the game. Without complex button combinations or analog sticks, gamers of various skill levels can literally step on the board and play.

For more information visit Tony Hawk: RIDE

K-1 Grand Prix 2009

Semmy Schilt, right, has been crowned 2009 K-1 Champion after stopping both last year's champion and this year's favourite.

The heavyweight division has been somewhat of a snoozefest of late and Schilt has borne much of the criticism, but there was no time for boredom to set in last night as most of the fights ended in first-round knockouts. First up was the much-anticipated repeat of Badr Hari v Ruslan Karev, which Hari convincingly won by stopping the Russian under the two knock-down rule. He faced Alistair Overeem next, in another anticipated rematch, and once again stopped the big fighter in the first round. Schilt's road to the final was almost as straightforward, flooring veteran Frenchman Jérôme Le Banner with body kicks and then seeing off a lacklustre Remy Bonjasky, last year's controversial champion.

The final, then, was contested between a Dutchman accused of being boring and a Moroccan who is anything but. Hari started - as per usual - going straight for the kill, but Schilt deflected much of the onslaught and caught Hari with a left jab that sent him to the floor. Hari beat the count and once again went on the offensive, but he was hurt and a thunderous high-kick from Schilt sent him to the canvas for the second time. As the final was contested under the three knock-down rule, Hari got the chance to fight on, but Schilt soon floored him for a third and final time to claim the champion. Boring or not, Schilt proved that he is still very much a force to be reckoned with, equalling countryman Ernesto 'Mr Perfect' Hoost in claiming his fourth title.

Toyota Leaves F1

Despite earlier claiming that the team was committed to Formula One, Toyota announced today that it is quitting the series with immediate effect.

The withdrawal of the company comes just two days after tyre maker Bridgestone also announced their departure from F1 and, as Honda has already left, it means that there will be no Japanese automaker involved in the sport. It also throws the future of drivers Kazuki Nakajima and Kamui Kobayashi into doubt, although team principal Tadashi Yamashina said that he "will let Nakajima and Kobayashi race in other teams". Kobayashi in particular, who was standing in for the injured Timo Glock, has looked impressive in his outings for the team.

It is not only F1 that is seeing an exodus of Japanese automakers, however, as Suzuki and Subaru have withdrawn from the world rally championship, motorcycle maker Kawasaki has left the MotoGP series and Mitsubishi is quitting the Dakar Rally.

Although Toyota announced that they would be cutting their F1 budget, the announcement that they were quitting has come as a surprise, especially as they were recently trying to sign big-name drivers like Kimi Raikkonen. For fans of F1, however, the departure may not be such a shock. Toyota entered F1 in 2002 and, due to its very deep pockets, was tipped to become a championship challenger almost immediately. However, in 139 grands prix it has failed to win a race its best result in the constructor's championship was fourth - back in 2005.

Anthony Pappalardo

Anthony Pappalardo, one of the stars of Lakai's groundbreaking Fully Flared film, recently took to the streets of New York on a rather interesting skateboard contraption - the circle board. Enjoy.

Aside from being a great skateboarder (check out this clip), Pappalardo has also just finished his first solo exhibition of furniture and artwork, Virgin White, also in New York. Constructed using a labour intensive block-by-block process, his stools and tables are handmade using a variety of woods, creating pretty stunning, well made pieces.

Toyota 'Not Leaving F1'

Despite stating that only a race win this season would guarantee continued participation, Toyota's Formula 1 bosses have been assured that the company is not planning to follow fellow Japanese manufacturer Honda out of the sport.

The signing of the Concorde Agreement recently commits the team to F1 for the next three years, although extensive budget cuts are planned, with up to a third of this year's budget expected to be lost. John Howett, Toyota's F1 president, remains optimistic for the future and feels that the elusive win could come at their home Grand Prix at Suzuka, where they are planning to unveil a "fairly big upgrade" to the car.