TokyoMike Visits LA Avenue in Japan

TokyoMike TSG Column #2

Alright here we go again lol……”TokyoMike, Will & Grace, and Stink-Finger hit LA Avenue”

Once again, we’re taking a much needed sneaker hunting trip thru the not-so-mean streets of Tokyo Japan…….the weather was beautiful….one of those warm breezy days where you’re walking past a young newly married couple kissing on a park bench, and you throw a rotten head of lettuce at them and then run away laughing your a$$ off……I had the entire day to “waste” sneaker shopping, so I brought along some friends of mine (3 cool cats who shall be known as Will & Grace, and the big homie Stink-Finger…..) and we headed out to Tokyo to snap up some pics of a nice spot called LA Avenue.

Our goal as we headed out was a sort of two-pronged sneaker attack….one, hit up LA Ave so TSG readers could get another taste of how we do it in Japan….and two, to ignore all the new kicks, and to buy “cheap heat”…..nothing brand new, only used, beater heat that had to be worn two seconds after buying it….oh, and also to eat at one of only a handful of Burger Kings in Japan……damn you Almighty Burger King, why can’t you be on every corner in Japan?!…… as you’ll see, I think we more than accomplished our goals……..

Now, for anyone who’s the least bit internet savy and has wasted countless work hours surfing the net trying to hunt down some kicks, you’ve most likely stumbled upon Napsize.com’s site…….they have a very, VERY large inventory of sneakers, from run-of-the-mill beaters to certified HEATERS…….well, Napsize.com is run outta LA Avenue……again, this is one of those shops that you kind of have to see to believe, and even then you find yourself looking for a doctor because you feel as if your heart may actually burst thru your chest and explode all over your best friends Yums, which would be a GOOD thing…….

LA Avenue is in the same area of Tokyo as K-Skit (Kichijoji)……in fact, they’re only a few minutes walking distance from one another. I actually brought Will, Grace, and Stink-finger along because these 3 jackasses knew exactly where this place was…….and it’s a good thing I did, because I’d have walked half way to Korea without em…..the place is on a small backstreet, and if you’re not looking for the sign, you’d definitely miss it pretty easily.

LA Avenue in Japan

As you can see, this spot has some VERY nice stuff. Two floors worth of kicks, with an incredible variety as far as brands. Lots of DS Heat……this is the only place I’ve seen with damn near a full size run of Supreme SB’s layed out like it’s nothing. Walls of Jordans, SB’s, Vans, NB’s, blah blah blah…….again, LA Ave is one of those Japanese spots where you walk in, and you kind of need a few minutes to get your bearings before you even look around because you get so pumped up, you end up missing stuff being that you’re worked up into a frothing-at-the-mouth sneaker-hunting frenzy…….it’s almost too much to handle……but in a very good way!

Now, as far as a direct comparison to K-Skit, I will admit, Skit’s got more stuff from the perspective of pure volume……..but honestly, LA Ave’s easier to shop in. K-Skit’s dark and claustrophobic, but LA Ave’s a nice, airy shop with real cool English speaking staff, and a good amount of room to walk around and cry yourself into a coma because you honestly can’t afford 99% of what they have for sale……..which brings me to my next point of interest……the prices………

Once again, if you’ve been at work like, “Yo, f*&# this important annual expenditure report, I have kicks to find!” and you’ve looked on Napsize.com, then you know that the prices are pretty high.

When I say “pretty high” I don’t mean “eh, I don’t wanna spend that much today,”……..I mean “Holy dogsh*t, I’m gonna have to sell my daughters kidneys and eyes to be able to afford that….. where’s my scalpel?….”

These fools aren’t exactly giving away heat for free……..and that’s being kind of modest…….

Now, apart from them having alot of super expensive stuff that makes you feel like the most broke person on the planet, all that super expensive heat is more than balanced out by a HUGE amount of kicks for REAL low prices……out in front of the shop, they have a big selection of kicks for sale, and for some really good prices. WTaps X Vans were going for about $70 a pair. Taka Hayashi Vans that were over $200 a pair on Caliroots.com were hittin’ for $100 a pop. Goofy Boy SB’s, Shogo SB Blazers, vintage Prestos, Carmines, Puma Suedes, Forces, Vandals, Converse, Visvim, BAPE’s, the list goes on and on…..condition varied from DS to “I gotta step in melted dog crap and need something fresh to do it in”…..but all of em were priced very nicely……and this brings me to our somewhat friendly “beater pick-up” game between me, Will, Grace, and Stink-finger, who’s images will remain anonymous due to security reasons I cannot disclose at this time……..again, we wanted to grab some decent kicks for more-than-decent prices.

2001 Blue/White Air Jordan 1

Nike SB Dunk High "Tweed"

My homeboy Will of the infamous Will & Grace (No Homo…..well, Kinda-Homo……ok, Yes-Homo) picked up some 2001 blue/white Jordan I Retros. Not DS, but definitely wearable…….for $80.00. Damn, I knew I shoulda grabbed em first cuz they looked like they woulda fit me and they ended up being my size, but I was too busy texting someone while Will was making moves on a great purchase…..gotta keep my damn focus next time!!. Will also grabbed some DS “DQM” Vans Chukkas for under $100……. and another great find, some Nike SB “Tweeds” for only $70.00……..three good pick ups in my opinion. Will walked home happy needless to say.

2001 Black Air Jordan 1

Grace grabbed some black Jordan I 2001 Retros for $70.00…..another good grab…….I actually seen em first but could tell that they were “ladyboy” size 8, and I wear a much more respectably masculine 11-11.5 (sorry G-Roc, I know you got them size 8.5 baby feet too lol…….) Again, they were used/worn, but not to the point of just walking away from em…..definitely a great grab.

My main man Stink-finger grabbed some white/3M SB’s (????) from 2001…….DS……..for under $100…….at least I think they’re SB’s…….white leather, 3M around the toe and heel, stuffed tongue, round skate laces, but in an older orange “regular” Nike box and no “SB” on the tongue tag……I don’t waste too much time online tracking every SB, and for all I know they’re fugazi and ol’ Stinky got GOT, but I tried to look em up and couldn’t find em, so I’m not sure. First person on TSG to ID em for me correctly gets the latest SHOEMASTER magazine and some free ATMOS Lacelocks, shipped free of charge……no joke…….

Nike SB Dunk Low Slam City

Finally, my personal pick up of the day. I did NOT get these at LA Ave……I got em at another branch of K Skit in that same area……..worn, but in excellent, EXCELLENT condition, Nike SB “Slam City’s”…….for $100. I got the Yeezy’s when they dropped on the 4th, along with the GID “Bamboo Rake” NB’s from Mita, Hurache Light Bursts, Freshwater Griffey Max’s, and a ton of other good grabs these past few weeks, but these Slams……these sh*ts made me REALLY HAPPY lol…….I’ve wanted them forever and almost never see em when I’m hitting the pavement looking for kicks, so to find em in great condition for $100 was a blessing……must’ve had something to do with the picture of Jesus on the tongues or something…….

Definitely a nice shop……if you’re ever in Tokyo, it’d be a HUGE mistake to not make the trip to LA Avenue cuz they definitely have some great stuff for sale, regardless of your current personal economic situation…..

Well, that’s the end of another Tokyo sneaker crusade. Great shop, great pick ups, and we sure the hell did hit Burger King later that day and ended up on the train with the “meat sweats” which felt oh-so-good……nothing like getting your weekly cholesterol allotment in one delicious serving…….I hope everyone enjoyed the “trip” to LA Avenue in Kichijoji, and be on the lookout for the next Tokyo trip real soon………and again, Thanks to G-Roc for letting me rant and rave like a crackhead, shout-out to Will, Grace, and Stink-Finger…..and a HUGE thanks to everyone who reads/comments on TSG……y’all know the deal…..there’s TSG, and there’s those “other” sites…….NO COMPETITION!…….