every once in a while, i sit down and think about how the heck i know so many people in japan. there are a few key players that made it happen and kinsan is one of them. it was back in 1992 during the ASP contest in Miyazaki. i lost earlier that day so i went exploring in the night life later that night. i walked into a loud bar and smelt something funny. i see martin potter and start talking to him. i ask him what that smell was. it smelt like hair burning or something. then the japanese guy walks up to me and says “hey, what’s up brah?” it was kinsan.
ever since then, i’ve seen kinsan all over the place. and everybody’s been telling me that he’s the best surf photographer in japan. back then, kinsan only took the elite surfers on trips all over the world.. i use to pick up surfing world magazine and dream to be in there.
then about 4 years later, i was surfing 8-10′ sunset and after i kicked out of a wave, i saw kinsan in the channel shooting photos. we started talking and he said “hey, there is an open slot for the upcoming tahiti trip next month. wanna go?” what? me? he said “yeah, you, shuji kasuya, and mar ono.” i remember that day clearly because i paddled straight in after that. why? because i didn’t want to get hurt and blow the chance of a lifetime. i drove home in pure excitement and called my sponsors that day. they gave me the green light and the rest is history. welcome to kinsan’s world….
ever since then, i’ve gone on many trips with kinsan all over the world. and throughout the years, i’ve met many awesome people through him. i always look back and am really thankful of the wonderful people i connected with from him. so here it is. i hardly say this to kinsan because it’s a guy thing. but i’ll do it. “thank you kinsan for making a lot of my dreams come true. and most important, thank you for connecting me with the wonderful people around you. i’ll never forget it.” this is a photo of the wild side of kinsan. i’ve seen this so many times and it just gets funnier and funnier…
Welcome to Kinsan's World!
Foot Onsen
Free dive 3 rounds today.
Foot Onsen time.
Deep japan culture is amazing!!!!
We are tired but we are strong!
Life with Ocean and Friends
when coming to wakayama, eating at Sego-san’s Marutaya is a must. i’d have to say probably the best ramen in japan. and i keep on telling him over and over, please open a restaurant in hawaii!” i’d love to take every single person i know there!!!
i always order a large but can eat more and more. just can’t stop.
drying out or dive gear and getting ready for day 2.
then we went to Ushio last night for dinner. another must go place in wakayama. the master picked up our fresh catch earlier in the day and prepared for us a wonderful dinner!
started off by fresh rock oysters hand picked by Naoka.
then the fish came out one by one. starting off with this one. it’s hard to believe these fish were swimming in the ocean just a few hours before.
sashimi platter 1.
sashimi platter 2. after eating all kinds of sashimi here in wakayama, i realized that nothing can beat fresh ishidai. it was amazing!
and the sazai sashimi was awesome! i found 4 in one breath. if i had an hour in the water picking sazai, i could have picked over a hundred. but why? we just took what we needed for dinner and left natures refrigerator alone. it’s always there and that’s nice to know.
it’s always great hanging out with such a wonderful family. the Kimura-san family have been taking care of my for many many years. i feel so comfortable here and that’s what makes it so fun. sometimes they probably get irritated from my selfishness and loudness, but they always seem to understand that’t the way i am. i should thank them more for putting up with me.
this was my favorite of the night.
master made us nitsuke from the trigger fish. this was amazing!
and i learned in my life that if you eat good food with good people, it’s even better than better. this was only day 1 and there are many more days to come.
hanging out at the Yamari house late night. just so welcoming and feels like home. i joke to a lot of people when they come here, “welcome to my house.” that’s what i told Eri-chan when she got here last night. she laughed, but after a few times here, i’m sure she will be saying the same thing. haha.
i haven’t seen this baby in a while. good camera gear equals good memories. say cheese!
