The Eley Kishimoto Blog

Went searching for the closest Bike Garage that had dealings with with bikes that I like from the inlaws were I am currently staying for the holiday period. At Motor Garage Goods Osaka Itami(http://www.mggoods.com/aaa/menu/menu.htm) there were a lot of Japanese SR400's custom bobbers a few trackers and some exceptional bits and pieces in storage. Hideki who showed me around was really open and I disturbed them busy cleaning for the holiday period that everyone also does at this time of year.

Found these three beauties adorning a wall of a post war inspired restaurant that sold western food with a Japanese twist with lots of croning big band jazz in the background and big kettle on the oil stove.. Dai Jobu felt very at home here..

On our annual mission with our business partners from Tokyo Mach 55(Ms Miura and Mr Hasegawa) we set off this year to Hakone to go for Onsen(Hot Spring Baths). On arrival we set straight off as it was clear further up the mountains to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji in all its clear glory, the Wine Onsen rung a chord with my Tokyo night hangover. The most amazing experience this year was listening to the earth groan, every so often there would be thunderous booms coming from the mountains as if they were warning of some impending doom. The onsen was beautiful all prepared for the forthcoming business year again..

In the studio getting it together for the first gig on the 21st January people ask what the band is about well they are called PLAYBAND and it is defined as Left Rock. Dai Jobu launch Night announced shortly. Watch out world and also your ears....

Future Education project. A beautiful tapestry weaving studio one of only a handful in the world producing commissioned and private work by four weavers who are lucky enough to have a full time job there. It is a converted Victorian swimming pool with an exhibition space and studios to die for above.

Driving past a workshop with a light on at night and interesting characters busying themselves with welding equipment made me want to visit. Upon an introduction from Henry who's workshop is in the same yard found out we have a frame builder. Really nice set up hardcore BMX frames being built from scratch. Fancy a flash one with David Death Spray Custom doing the paint.

I was invited to the dinner of the launch of the Hong Kong Archietectural Bienale luckily and in true schoolboy adoration met Sheguru Ban who was also at the dinner. Here is the pavilion designed with the ingenious cardboard tubes and models of alternative possibilities.

Dilys's earlier invitation or Shanghai Crab season tempted me to visit. Snanghai Hairy Crab was the mission and mission acomplished

Witnessed these very chic locals enjoying their instant cup noodles with a glass of champagne in the local 7 to 11 at 4am in the morning as i was getting my milk. It seems that these stores in Hong Kong become impromptu bars and restaurants if customers wish, nice.

I was invited to judge the 27th Korean Fashion Design Contest in Seoul by Doii and Ines's extended invitation for the Korean Fashion Association. I was treated incredibly well with everything and was nice to witness Seoul and its young fashion creators. There is very much in evidence great effort to push and support its domestic young creatives and surely the result of this will be seen globally in the next 4-5 years.

Had Lunch with Doii and visited her new store/office in Seoul. Her work is full on.

Performed a lecture on "look" today at Brighton my old Art School and spoke about our activities and went to say hello to the sea.

This was the second workshop visit on Monday. The proud owners Henry and Dean and their Snake Skin Jacket set up.

I had the pleasure today of popping into to the basement at Derek's Lewis Leathers after a trainer meeting with Double Identity on the middle floor and say hello to our hair guy Mathew at Kinninmont on the 2nd floor all at 28 Chilworth St. Upon saying hello to Derek I spot some gasses and on closer inspection realise that they are an Effector collaboration with him, brilliant. Its the first time seeing Effector in London after rocking my blue pair bought in the Rugged Museum Tokyo and to hear they have just arrived only 5 pairs each and my order TBC is very Derek. He opens a new store just off Tottenham Court Road in December so a new central town hang out. Nice Race Suits and Boots amongst much more

Had the pleasure of being driven down to Red Max Speed Shop with David of deathspraycustom.com to drop off both my bikes to get fixed up for racing and exhibitions in the new year. On the way stopped off to have a sandwich in Heston Blumenthal's revamped Little Chef. Steve has a great passion and is a leading garage in the world of flat and street trackers.

Dilys has invited me to Hong Kong because it is the right time to eat Shanghai Crab. Nice thought.

Just a few other pieces that caught my imagination, I especially like the Crochet Pots The Loom in the crypt of the church and the Monkey on the Cross.

The first day in Moscow I participated in the Future City Game which was an all day workshop, this is the team and the sabotaged model, the model went missing and was presented on the last day and it came back a bit battered re-landscaped and a few colourful blobs added. It is our vision of the Flacon plot flattened, landscaped and a new building(Green Square) built by international architectural competition tender to create the most progressive green aspirational building in Russia. It is to be a cultural center for local and global communities. It is to be a magnet to all visitors to Moscow a cultural destination equal to Red Square. The local vicinity with this development will naturally regenerate with this focused development the infrastructure of local transport/ security/ and service facilities would be naturally improved. We lost and a local market won but it was fun playing with plasticine and making up new notions and political changes in a foreign and unfamiliar land. Russians as far as I know are not thinking green just yet and possibly there is an opportunity there.

. This picture is taken from the cover of the current New Festival Catalogue of the Centre Pompidou Paris. We have styled and dressed Éric Duykaerts for the performance at the exhibition "Palais des Glaces et de la Découverte" at the Belgium Pavalion during last years Venice Bienale. We created a bespoke Suit with matching Shoes and Shirt and produced a editioned Bow Tie working with him. It was thanks to Christine Macel of the Pompidou who asked us to participate with this project.

Longtime friend and collaborator, we exhibited together in a Brixton Squat Gallery in 1991 so happy to see him happy x