06. pizza, skate and fat.
Isn't it Parisian? Setup.
What is the stereotype of Paris? Gray stone buildings. Marronnier street trees. The passing rain and blue sky. The sound of beautiful church bells. Chic people in nice show windows. ...... We enjoyed Paris from an angle that was (maybe) out of the ordinary.
Eating a whole meal at a pizza place (PIZZU) in Paris, as in America (PIZZANISTA). Riding around town on a skateboard instead of a fancy road racer like in the Tour de France. Playing with fat street looks instead of chic and tight attire. Yes, people who are not chic! The hustle and bustle of a messy city! Endless French conversation. ......
Paris was indeed a histrionic city, rich in art and culture. However, there are many more diverse people than that, including many immigrants, and people from various backgrounds are on the streets. That is why skating blends in with the city without any sense of discomfort. Perhaps the streets are more filled with skating on a daily basis than in Los Angeles or Tokyo, which are car-dominated societies.
On a side note, after returning to Japan, I received an e-mail from the owner of a skate store (Nozbone). He seemed to be very interested in the "FAT" items we wore in Paris, which were a collaboration with Banjaman's skate photos. And he wants us to come back to Paris soon. By the way. The best season for skating in Paris is September, everyone in the city says. And you will surely meet OG Banjaman somewhere.
Emilien, a skater who has studied at an art college in Kanazawa, moved to Paris from Strasbourg. He works as a graphic designer and assists Soi Pandey's apparel line at Magenta. It may be a characteristic of Parisian skaters that many skaters like him are connected to Japan in some way.
