The following article was originally printed in the December 2023 Issue of Slush. To access the more articles click here.
Kaishu Hirano, Aito Ito, Yuto Yamada, and Hayato Nagasawa are the heartbeat of Japan's Dobunezumi crew-one that has gathered several affiliates in Ayumu Hirano, Raibu Katayama and others.In translation, the term Dobunezumi roughly means "street rat." Their magnetic allure lies in the raw, unapologetic aura exuded by these young Japanese riders, a fascination that has held us captive for the past year. To simplify matters, one might liken them to a Japanese iteration of the Dustbox crew. What's intriguing is the seamless fusion between these two squads, as they have found themselves together on more than one occasion this winter.
It’s reminiscent of a perfect musical collaboration— Best metaphor being the The Traveling Wilburys, (a British-American supergroup consisting of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty) where individual talents coalesce into something greater.
What sets this crew apart seems to be their departure from Japan's more structured lifestyle. The moniker "street rat" encapsulates their rebellion against norms, their knack for forging their own path and navigating life with a nonchalant grace, akin to streetwise creatures finding their way through the urban maze.
Kaishu and his brother Ayumu, an honorary member, embody a facet of snowboarding defined by competing at the pinnacle. Yet, crucially, they refuse to let the grand stage stifle their authenticity. The rest of the crew radiates a different energy, a wilder spirit less fixated on global recognition. Their flair for style transcends boundaries as they conquer street spots with an eerie coolness—a feat far more challenging in Japan given the societal aversion towards any act that might deface public property, constantly evading the watchful eye of the law.
Attempts to delve deeper through interviews were met with unexpected twists—our interviewer went rogue, and the files vanished into the ether. Yet, reducing this crew's essence to mere quotes would be unjust. They remain one of the most thrilling, genuine collectives in snowboarding today, shrouded in secrecy, partly due to the language barrier, and perpetually elusive, enhancing their mystique and allure.
So while we don’t have their perspective per say, we joyfully present some imagery of Japan’s rising sons.
