Lowlife Days

No trip to Japan would be complete with out one of my partners in crime, Mr. Mike Alexander.

 I know that posting blogs, in the middle of the night is pointless. Well, not completely pointless since our brothers in Australia are up, but for the most part, it just means that most people won't see it. I'm going to take my chances though since I really want to share these shots. I've came to the conclusion that I have enough pics to post for a year.

Our early trips to Japan were all business. We found ourselves working all the time.

Here is Makoto cruising in his truck.

This is the time when my brain seems to spin the most. I've had a few drinks, and it's almost midnight. But after a very brief discussion with my good friend Mike Alexander about blogs this weekend and my lunch with Max Fish today, I got motivated. Looking for pics to help my buddy Steve Wilk from Wilk Worx I found a ton of cool pics. So I figured why not share. 

We were on our way to a photo shoot.

One of the many clean ass Japanese trucks we shot.

I found some pictures from my Lowlife Video/Mini Truckin' Magaizne days. I know that these days are gone and behind me, but they sure were some good times. My favorite days were probably spent traveling in the south, hanging with my friends from DIB and hitting all those southern state shows. But my trips from Japan come in close second. These trips were priceless. I honestly think they were so awesome, that they never even sunk in. I mean, here we were, a handful of American "jerks" doing our think in Japan. We didn't hold back, maybe we should have. After all the customs (I don't mean the cars/trucks) in Japan are so different. But here we were, being assholes, tearing shit up and attracting the cops (literally). All in all we never held back and were true to ourselves.

 Check out a couple of candid photos from some of our trips. 

I don't think a moment went buy that we weren't screwing around. Bobby from Sadistic Iron Werks most likely gave Makoto a nut shot here.

The Lowlife Mike I remember.

You should see this thing now. It's come a long way. This is when it was shot for MT magazine the second time. I think this thing has run three times in MT now.

Love this 720. Nissan 720's are very popular in Japan. Picking a clean one to shoot is easy, since most of them look this good.

I didn't shoot this thing. Mike Alexander did. I took advantage of the set-up though and sneaked this shot in.

I did shoot this thing. Shooting in the middle of the day isn't always something you want to do as a magazine photographer. But in Japan you shoot when you can, especially on our crazy schedule. But getting the train in the shot was painfully timed and I love this shot.

Strange photo shoot. The dad was here, and his hot daughter was the owner.

Believe it or not, this is the effect I was going for in this shot. The subject is Takuji Murayama, the President of No Regrets Japan. We were cruising in his body dropped Toyota Pick up.

I absolutely loved this photo shoot. I had to ride with the owner of this truck for what seemed like forever. He didn't speak a word of English and I didn't speak a word of Japanese, but we both spoke minitruck.

Tattoos for Japan!

On March 20th in the city of Relands, over $3000 dollars was raised in less than 12 hours for a few good friends in Japan. Tattoos for Japan was the brilliant idea of Brent Vann, owner of Tattoo Revolution, my boss, and my friend. (Don't tell him I said boss though because he doesn't like that) The idea was simple $100 palm sized and all the money including the tips would go to Japan.

Rick Mullins got the first Tattoo of the Day

It started out as a simple idea and we were hoping to raise $1000. In no time though we could tell that this wasn't going to be an ordinary day, and luckily for Brent and I, three other artists decided to lend a hand. Aaron Funk, Marc Jackson and Eric Olquin jumped in and started tatttooing to help Brent tattoo 25 people. Of course I have to say that Mr. Joe Greene and Kyle Spencer also did an awesome job of helping me with stations and tubes that day. All in all it was a great shop effort and makes me proud of the shop I work for. I'm also greateful for all my friends that came by to help with donations, and to hang out with us that day. I wish I could name them all but that would be impossible.

Being a minitrucker sometimes isn't all it's cracked up to be, but being in No Regrets has thaught me that it's all about the people you surround yourself with. Not all 25 people were members of No Regrets, but nearly half of them were. It makes me proud of my members and my friends, and especially to say that I work for Tattoo Revolution.

Members of No Regrets So Cal from Left to Right, Clyde, Jose, Eron

I'd like to close by saying thanks to a few people who contributed in one way or another that day. In no particular order:

Mike Venegas for coming out and filming that day.
Brent Vann
Joe Greene
Marc Jackson
Kyle Spencer
Eric Olquin
Aaron Funk
John O'neill
Chris Pasley
Steve Wilk
Max and Sandi Fish
Tim From Bio, Sorry I don't know your last name Tim, but thanks for bringing all your friends.
All the guys from No Regrets So Cal, especially Eron Leader and Jason Fry for staying late and helping me out later that night.

This was the first Tattoo of the Day on Rick Mullins by Brent Vann

Clyde Barela of No Regrets So Cal getting a lip Tattoo

Two No Regrets So Cal trucks

Sandi Fish brought out her Watson inspired 61 Cadillac painted by her husband Max Fish

Max Fish from Bio Kustumz gets his wrist Tattooed with a crowd in the lobby

Tim from Bio Kustumz is getting his Tramp Stamp

Sandi makes it look easy

Lowlife Mike hard at work

NR So Cal member Ben is getting an NR star by Eric Olquin with the Islands of Japan over it

Aaron Funk not only tattooed but he also provided a free BBQ for everybody

Jayson Fry another NR So Cal member gets an NR Tattoo

Lowlife Mike didn't just film the whole thing, he also contributed to the good cause by getting a Tattoo

Here is my contribution to the cause, I recieved an I Love Japan Tattoo by Brent Vann

Thinking Of Japan and My Friends

 MAKOTO "MAMOKO" OKAMURA - BEST OF SUCK 2010!