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!…….
Category: News
DAMNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! Now let me read……
This store looks sick…..this is what a consignment shop is supposed to look like! Nice Job TM.
Nice heat.. Yo Tokyomike why don’t u just google the SKU number of the dunk. And they aren’t SBs because SBs started in 2002 and u said these dunks are from 2001…
TokyoMike…sounds like ur in sneaker heaven man…idk wut 2 say 2 those deals..I’m speechless………………well I can say I’d like 2 go 2 Japan!!
Tokyo Mike those 3M Dunks are legit,they’re nike dunk low pro’s 624044 101. How do I know this? cuz I got a pair that i’m lookin’ at right now
*Correction, the number is 624044 112, I looked at the box number instead of my tag number……..had em in the wrong box lol
nice pickups, i always wanted to go to japan, we need some shops like that in philly
Tokyo Mike classic quote:
“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……”
white 3m’s are fat toungue dunks from 01 not sb’s or pro b’s
right before sb’s tho
-Amin
I believe those dunks were white/silver 3m dunks pro B:
style code: 624044 112
Released in 2001, initially as dunk low pro b’s then dunk low pro sb’s. The pro B line served as a tester or precursor to the sb line, intended to be a skateboarding sneaker. So what’s the verdict?
Good trip TokyoMike!
My dude TokyoMike has done did it again mayne….I would def snatch some AJ VI’s – Olys & Sept. Blue, Supreme SB’s, WTTD’s, & Paris’. I’d negotiate wit the cashier & work out an offer he can’t refuse….Like smuggle his family into U.S. soil in exchange for some sick azz kicks. LOL! If I’m ever in Japan, I’d go ride that Bullet Train I’ve seen on the Discovery channel & indulge myself wit some Blowfish Sushi….Nice pick up, Slam Citys’ dumb hot.
Dag Tokyo Mike, Japan is the place to be! Another good read though, I was wonderin’ the other day when you were going to hit us upside the head with another classic story…what you think of them Bamboo Rake joints though? A lot of people was hatin’ on the tongue…I’m not hatin’.
Damn, TokyoMike. Thanks for the knowledge
TOKYO MIKE
those are the NIKE DUNK PRO 3M SILVER thats the official name through nike otherwise known as the white/silver 3m dunks pro b’s
they were made as pro dunks and pro b dunks and yes released in 2001
they arent worth alot but are really rare due to how ago they came out
I NEED SHOE MASTER
oh and info from nsb forums read more here if you want
http://forums.n-sb.org/index.php?showtopic=35164&st=705
but my friend has them aswell so i can try and get him to show you an og box photo if you need proof of the name
Nice info.
Those 3ms are pro b.
those dunks with the 3M are pro b charcoals
heres my friends photo of the box and he wrote the name of the shoe as the subtitle
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1829074&id=652938274
They’re not SB’s, they are Pro B’s. Came out just before Nike SB did, tested on these dunks with the fat tongues and the leather, great shoe
White/Silver 3M Dunk Pro B
Yoo…I saw the jordaNZ on the wall. i pissed. i saw the sb’s in the glass and i shitted. saw the ?uest loves and the closing ceremonies and shitpissed. THATS MY CUE>…im going to tokyo. kunichiwa.
^^DSMITH I LOVE the Bamboo Rake joints…..gonna go back up to Mita to try and triple up on em….one of the hottest releases this year in my opinion….
^so did i win tokyomike?
did i win?, i answered a while ago, it says 8:50pm but it also says “your comment is awaiting moderation” so i don’t know if it’s up or not
that yums part was funni and damn i need 2 move ova 2 japan
Those white 3m dunks are just a pair of Dunk Low Pro Bs from back in the day.
Now wheres my prize? Haha
Well considering Nike was doing dunk lo’s with stuffed tongues before 2002 which is when the second try at SB as we know it was successful. I don’t think those have a nickname.
i belive those dunks are not sbs and are known as the UN-ginos …
The white 3M “SB’s” are… correct me if I’m wrong… Pro B’s right?
To add to my comment, in 01 Nike came out with a team red Pro B with I believe materials as the white ones I know them as team red griptape Pro B’s
Okay G-roc, forget my last 2 comments…
Those ARE Pro’s or Pro B’s
NIKE DUNK 3M SILVER
I got link to a picture of another pair too
“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…….”
those are sb’s dunks but are regular nikes with the fat tongue
they are the probably the only non sb fat tongue dunks
I have a OG deadstock pair at home
Maybe they were 2002 release, I’m not too sure but I know for a fact they came out around the same time as the viotech suede dunks
Oh i don’t need the freebies but its an awesome offer
correction****
those are not sb’s dunks but are regular nikes with the fat tongue
yes thats what i said
…before you
so do i win tokyomike?
if there is anybody in LA, LA Avenue has a sister shop called RIF. owned by the same fam. and all the over priced shoes at LA Avenue can be ordered online. LA Avenue used to be called napsize but they completely changed their name in the end of 07. and there sister store in lil tokyo, los angeles is http://www.rif.la/ . tokyo mike ima need you to go deeper into japan and hit up some real exclusive spots. trust me their out there. i spent 2 and a half years sneaker shopping in japan so i know for a fact but il let you cont to search for them on ur own and then you can broadcast them to all th TSG readers… japan = sneaker capitol of the world….
“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…….”
Those are Nike Pro’s or Pro B’s
NIKE DUNK 3M SILVER
man, last time i read your column i nearly started crying becuase i cant go to japan any time soon, and now u feature this and im preety much getting depressed
haha
nice shop dude, as for those dunks, i know some of these peeps have already stated what they are, but i think MR ANONYMOUS has a pair. He shows them on his second “show me your sneaker collection” vid.
TokyoMike, im writing down all these stores, they better be easy to find cause i will not leave the country till i find it, going there in the winter, plane ticket is crazy from canada and BTW, how much are gshock watchs down there lol, they run about 100 – 200 in toronto
they are known as 3M pro B’s. They were nike’s SB line (pro B) before there was an SB. kind of like testing the waters. pretty sure they are from about 2001 but can’t be certain without seeing the tag
umm Phat..if ur talking about the white dunks in the middle of the page with the 3m. those are pro b’s. before sb officially came out. but it looks like tokyomike had a sick journey. very good find. a lot of heat up there.
yo G-roc do they have anything like this in the states?
LAAVENUE/NAPSIZE runs the whole sneaker market worldwide!!!
1. does this place have a website?
2. am i the only one that is completely grossed out by used kicks?
3. tokyomike: i am also 11.5, can we just go ahead and call 11.5 the most difficult size to find?
4. I need some day of the deads in my life (new ones)
Denims,Paris,Day of the Deads,
Tokyo SBs,Zoo Yorks,DQMs,Futura Dunks AND BLAZERS!
Maan gheez louis thats more
dope then a trap house during tax returns!
TKO on this one TokyoMike!
They’re not that expensive compared to other stores and they have more heat in bigger sizes compared to other stores.
…Oh, f*ck flight club.
tookyo mike. if u woulda check’d on ur myspace..
i check’d them out that day we got home from tokyo.
SOOOO. technically.. i win right.
oh and u can ship it at my house in him. HEIGHTS.
tmonki94 – RIF LA and Flight Club
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Good ish TM and I need to make a trip to Japan soon!.
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Of course it wouldn’t have been fair for me to enter TM’s contest, but several people have already answered correctly. However, Nike also made a charcoal and lighting colorway which is str8 dopeness. I’ll try to find a pic and post the link in here. Man its 6:09am, let me take my butt to bed.
BACK IN THE DAYS, “CHAPTER” WAS THE BEST SPOT TO GET KICKS.. “LA AVENUE” IS A PRETTY COOL SPOT (BUT, THEY NEVER HAVE SIZE 13!!).. K-SKIT IS INCREDIBLE, THEY HAVE HEAT ALL OVER THE STORE!!! WHEN I GO TO JAPAN I HIT ALL OF THEM..