Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Tokyo Alleycat

Hi,

I built this thread because I was generally looking for alleycat (in Tokyo) threads but I couldn't find them so...Mainly thought if you know or plan alleycat race in Tokyo, please post with information. Like, what kind of alleycat, location, fixed gear only or not,entry fie etc. If you can update, that'll be great.
And if you are plaining one, I rather happy to help you too.

tak

------------------------------------------------------------------
PS I'm also looking for foreign piste bikers around Tokyo!
I live in Kugahara (southern Tokyo) so if you live close, let me know!

watashi-wah ahona bei kokujin

From your sig: Why would you use Gaijin (外人)? You really should use Gaikokujin (外国人). Gaijin is more derogatory.

I'm looking for a Japanese girlfriend.

I'm looking for a Japanese girlfriend.

Ah yes, the ultimate hipster accessory.

Hi,

<snip>

tak





This isn't the same Tak that bought some bikes from me is it?

gaijin is an abbreviation for gaikokujin.
and i dont think 外人 gaijin is derogatory at all
its not like japanese -> jap
plus sometimes ppl use gaijin as adj
like gaijin bar/gaijin club/gaijin area (like roppongi)
so if i go "gaikokujin piste bikers" that doesnt sound familiar to me

im japanese so...im pretty sure.
but if you felt in that way. im sorry

>>I'm looking for a Japanese girlfriend.
They are so shy. unless they are like jap trash girl on shibuya centre st

Gaijin is derogatory, because of its origin. It use to refer to an enemy (spy). Yes, I do know it is an abbreviation, but I also know what it is generally used for.

Maybe those in Tokyo don't mean it that way. My friend from Tokyo didn't understand why I had a problem with it either, but my friend from the Fukuoka would never think of calling me Gaijin.

>> This isn't the same Tak that bought some bikes from me is it?
I dont think so...

btw is any alleycat arround tokyo? lol

hey tak remember when we were in setegaya-koen trading racial slurs with that dude who has the kirin tattoo?

i was always taught that gaijin was an impolite way to say gaikokujin


edit: but then again i was also taught in a public school.

Jap ; Japanese : 外人 ; 外国人

>>abe
yea i remember him. what about?

okay i dont want to have the discussion of whether gaijin is derogatory or not on this thread.
(go to 2ch or 4ch or watever)
if you can read japanese
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%96%E4%BA%BA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaijin (eng) <- conclusion

i found out the debate is going for long time
but personally i dont give a **** even you guys call me "jap"
its a fact.

but i didnt want to insult you, i didnt mean in the way you guys think.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


about the alleycat. if theres no alleycat (i believe thats quit impossible)
i really want to organize one later. so whoever can help me or if i can help you to do so. please let me know!

Don't get upset about it. We are just bringing it up, making you aware. And waiting to see if anyone knows of some Tokyo Alleycats.

whatever, I don't find it offensive at all

kugahara is nice!!

whatever, I don't find it offensive at all

+1

I use gaijin to refer to myself sometimes, and don't take offense if others use it to refer to me (usually).....but it definitely is less polite than 'gaikokujin' and sometimes people use it in a deliberately derogatory way. It depends on the situation. What irks me more the is quasi-polite "gaijin-san" as if it is some sort of occupation.


Alley-cats-----they usually make their way to the 'track bikes in Tokyo' thread. But cruise around the hipster shops (Carnival, etc) and you are bound to see flyers.

Visit Punch or Carnival and ask around. Carnival is probably your best bet though. Hal (Haru) seems to have his hands in the scene.

gaijin-san??? WTF??

yeah. "gaijin-san" happens a lot when someone is talking about foreigners to someone else --people usually seem to mean it politely. like: "a lot of gaijin-san come to our store, they are good customers" etc.

for some reason I don't hear "gaijkokujin-san" very often. seems like people bump up to the more polite "gaikoku no kata"

After being called a gaijin-san once I got snarky and pointed out that being foriegn wasn't really a profession (though that is very definitely open to arguement!) and the flustered shop staff asked what was better and I went for "gaikoku no kata" Hmm....anyway, sorry for the digression.

Is it just me or is it usually older people who use this `gaijin-san' form?

(digression continues)

yeah. "gaijin-san" happens a lot when someone is talking about foreigners to someone else --people usually seem to mean it politely. like: "a lot of gaijin-san come to our store, they are good customers" etc.

for some reason I don't hear "gaijkokujin-san" very often. seems like people bump up to the more polite "gaikoku no kata"

After being called a gaijin-san once I got snarky and pointed out that being foriegn wasn't really a profession (though that is very definitely open to arguement!) and the flustered shop staff asked what was better and I went for "gaikoku no kata" Hmm....anyway, sorry for the digression.

you should read will furgeson's book about hitchhiking in japan (hokkaido highway blues), its kind of cheesy at points but he gives a really awesome explanation of the concept of "gaijin-san"

I've noticed it more from younger people trying to be polite in retail situations, but hey, I'm a consumer.

I haven't read Ferguson's book, but I do like hitchhiking here! Do you remember the gist off hand?

ps--to further digress, anyone riding around tomorrow should swing by Yasukuni. It is a madhouse on the 15th and worth seeing, if only for the spectacle/been-there seen-that factor.

hopefully Abe won't go down---last year when Koizumi did the tons of TV helicopters woke me up at 5:30 AM (I live nearby).

I was there...it was great. :)
Tennou Banzai!!
Nothing like rubbin elbows with the elite uyoku crowd. :)

I've noticed it more from younger people trying to be polite in retail situations, but hey, I'm a consumer.

I haven't read Ferguson's book, but I do like hitchhiking here! Do you remember the gist off hand?

ps--to further digress, anyone riding around tomorrow should swing by Yasukuni. It is a madhouse on the 15th and worth seeing, if only for the spectacle/been-there seen-that factor.

the basic idea is that gaijin-san is sort of a term of endearment, an important part of japanese (especially rural) communities in that you play the role of kooky guy who doesn't understand anything (even if you do).

EMT- all the cabinet ministers have said they won't go this year. but who knows. last year Koizumi pulled (and I counted) NINE helicopters. we don't need nine sky-cams do we?

Abe2- Thanks. I'll take a look at it sometime. I tend to be the kooky gaijin who speaks scarily good Japanese to the point that I stop getting the kooky gaijin treatment. So when it pops up (and if I am in a bad mood) I tend to shoot it down pretty quickly. Meh, haven't been too rural lately though....I need to take a road trip.

anyone get a copy of this magazine when it came out?

http://ic59.mixi.jp/p/a72506c663b89f6dc50a83c0054dae35bf5074fe54/46c13e00/diary/41/61/411254161_121.jpg

^^^that's offensive.

I think if you travel around asia you'll find that there are words in every country (ie. cantonese "gwai lo") to identify foreigners which would be deemed offensive in North America, but it's become such common terms that it has lost all derogatory meaning. I think most gaijin in japan understand that too.

On a sidenote, I'd much rather be an anonymous gaijin then being called out by nationality. Friend: My house was broken into. Koban: The Chinese did it.

yeah I don't get the gaijinsan thing much either after I open my mouth.

what magazine is this ephkappa? I only see the mixi thing `this image cannot be viewed'

I am betting it is the "gaikokujin hanzai file" mook that caused a stir and later led the publisher to bankruptcy (though I can't see it either).

......or we are back on topic and it one of those new GUIDE TO YOUR PISTA LIFE magazines....

[back off topic] yeah..... but definitely white and quite probably American isn't that anonymous.

I have actually tried to get people to work with nationality when they can, usually with some sort of illustrative examples about "a Thai is a Chinese is a Korean is a Japanese does that make sense?" kind of parallel. [/back off topic]

yeah I don't get the gaijinsan thing much either after I open my mouth.

what magazine is this ephkappa? I only see the mixi thing `this image cannot be viewed'

i believe what nateintokyo said...

http://xb2.xanga.com/8cdd1ae130531104060374/m73496154.jpg

http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4754256182/?tag2=eichicojp-22&tag2=eichicojp-22

http://www.debito.org/index.php/?p=192

yeah I remember that thing, crap galore

ps remember ishihara & his `sangokujin' comment? ++++ that guy.

cause he's so extremely right
i dont like him either, the way he does
drug enforcement is crazy
he made me harder to get pot in tokyo

so if anyone voted for ishihara. I ****IN KICK YOUR ASS

外人裏犯罪ファイル・・・(foreigner's crime file)
neither japs like that book so it doesnt matter...

but also it was true that shinjuku was ruined by chinese/taiwanese
and most of dealers in roppongi are israeli.

japanese ppl are so so so nice to caucasian.
but if your skin is same or darker, tanner whatever, they are more likely to discriminate you.

they go
white ppl -> ppl from foreign company maybe working at japanese branch, english teacher, or tourists

tanner darker ppl -> ususally seen around shinjuku, shinookubo, kamata etc. look like work for mafia somehow maybe prostitute. and stay here without visa etc...

black ppl -> selling hip hop clothing.

i guess this is pretty much true, what they think i mean. its just stereotype.

drug enforcement is crazy
he made me harder to get pot in tokyo

;)

did you hear about this today? http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20070814TDY02006.htm

the basic idea is that gaijin-san is sort of a term of endearment, an important part of japanese (especially rural) communities in that you play the role of kooky guy who doesn't understand anything (even if you do).

I played the kooky gaijin character and my brother told me people thought I was just a fool. I think it had something to do with calling him onesama (spelling?). I thought it was funny.

I guess there are no alleycats?

;)

did you hear about this today? http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20070814TDY02006.htm

gotta get that ganja back...jk

I played the kooky gaijin character and my brother told me people thought I was just a fool. I think it had something to do with calling him onesama (spelling?). I thought it was funny.

oniisama -> big brother (with respect)
no one calls their old brother oniisama if he is ur familiy
but like, ur girlfriend or someone had an old brother, then you go "i wana know about ur Oniisama or Oniisan (more familiar)"
same thing happens Otosama (dad), Okasama (mom), Onesama (sis),


I guess there are no alleycats?

yea...sad. i was thinkin bout check point alleycats around uchibori-dori 内堀通り near tokyo castle. aka koukyo
it goes circle, bout 6km 4mil. one lap race.

but again ive never experienced planing alleycats race. if anyone think its a good idea. make it happend

No, I was calling him Onesama, big sister. They didn't get it either.

yep not too funny, oh well ...

yep not too funny, oh well ...

Sure it is, but many people don't seem to like puns. Futon da futon ga.lol

ge~~~~~

when is the next pillage? does anyone know?

Tak,
Keep your eye on this page also. http://mixpression.com/
Maybe youve seen that already?

Also, i heard once that there was a group of Tokyo riders that have races every week somewhere in Tokyo.
I dont know if they still are or who they are. That was a few months ago.

it's also a good idea to be on Mixi. all the flyers make it to the various pista and messenger communities.

it's also a good idea to be on Mixi. all the flyers make it to the various pista and messenger communities.

リンク、お願いします。。。

Im sure you know mixi if you live in japan. http://www.mixi.jp
Just search for ピスト and youll find em.