I’ve been obsessed with Japanese subcultures like Bosozoku.  I don’t know what it is about the land of the rising sun that births such bold statements in well… everything.   You’ve got to think that the gene that makes you feel self conscious is either hugely inflated, or completely missing.  This has trickled over and fused into some crazy places.

Possibly the most recognisable flavour of this fusion to the west is Nakai-san (Akira Nakai), who made his Rauh-Welt Porsches famous and accepted to the point of concourse in the most die hard of arenas.  These names are all statements by the way.  Bosozoku means “Wreckless Tribe”, Rauh-Welt, “Rough World”.  No language is sacred, no vehicle is either.  Somehow it works.  These guys all exist in some sort of twilight zone, with mannerisms (and smoking habits) of the Dean era.  They work out of dingy garages destroying and re-imagning inventions of the 90′ s(mainly), but in the most technologically advanced country in the world.  Its almost like a big fuck-you to the disposable rate of advancement of everything today.  And its awesome.

Enter Yoshihiko Ando.  A wood carver and lure maker.  His creations usually make me laugh.  Recently he started doing fish carvings.  That laughter is now drool.

They say you need to look at Japan for a glimpse into the future, with regards to financial markets, property booms, etc.  So lets hope that the rest of the world sees a return to craftsmanship after the automation era.

and for those of you who would like to try it at home, heres a little step-by-step: