The importance of the present, passing the baton from the past to the future.
CHINO, Shigekix and Flash joined CRAZY-A for this photo. They were dressed in costumes of the time. B-BOY fashions from each era are linked to the styles of rappers and DJs, with CHINO and Flash's impressive setups reminiscent of Run-D.M.C.'. In the 90's, oversized outfits can be seen, showing the transition of the times.
-Let's go back to the video works. Besides the movements and music, the fashion of the dancers has also changed, hasn't it?
KURO THE ROCK: The general trend is that in the 80s, people were fashionable, and in the late 90s, of course there were many fashionable people, but there were also many people who emphasized ease of movement, The number of fashionable young people has increased since 2010, and they are now wearing fashionable clothes that are cool because they dance in them.
Shigekix: Of course, it differs from person to person, but it is characteristic of the times. I agree with Mr. KURO that fashion is also important because it is a form of self-expression. Even in the Olympics, uniforms are fixed for other sports. But in breakin, there are some restrictions, but it was free. I think it is important in any era to know what to wear to make your dance stand out.
KURO THE ROCK: I have always been conscious of the fact that you never know where you might get into a battle, so I dressed up to dance at any time, and I'm still dragging that out.( lol) I've never had a sudden battle in the street in the 20-odd years I've been doing this, but( lol) I've never had a sudden battle in the street. Beat Street" ('84 ), there's a sudden battle in the basement of a train station or something. I thought there might be one.
Shigekix: When I say that I can dance anytime, I am talking about sneakers. I think there is not a B-Boy who doesn't like sneakers. They are so worn out that I will wear them in the next battle, and I will re-tighten the laces right before I dance. They have strong feelings for their sneakers, including the time when they are not dancing.
-Finally, how do you hope to contribute to the scene in the future after having produced the video works that have led you from the past to the present?
KURO THE ROCK: I wish there was something I could do.
Shigekix: There are, a lot of them.
KURO THE ROCK: There are junior staff members who depend on me, and I want to do my best since I have been invited to the event. I hope to support the dance scene as much as possible through "ENTER THE STAGE", a dance information website that I run, I hope to support the scene in any way I can. I hope to be able to contribute to Breakin in some way.
Shigekix: Everyone checks out "ENTER THE STAGE," you know.
KURO THE ROCK: Thanks to your support, many people have seen the site, and we are grateful for that.
Shigekix: I believe that over the past few years, breakin has become more accessible to the public. From a player's standpoint, there is a sense that we are witnessing a moment when times are changing. But as you can see from the video, this is only possible because of the history of the past. I feel that it is up to us, the current generation, to figure out how to connect the present to the future. From now on, I would like to promote the culture and community of Breakin rather than its growth as a competition.
KURO THE ROCK: Yes, it is. This is a video work that describes the history, but it does not tell the whole story of breakin in Japan. If you are interested in it after viewing it, I would like you to explore it. That is what I am trying to convey in this film, so I hope that it will not be a complete work in itself, but rather a starting point for people to become deeply absorbed in the subject.
Shigekix: The essence of street culture, including breakin', is that it can emanate an energy that cannot be channeled anywhere else. Although some aspects have changed with the times, the appeal of breakin as a culture has not changed in any era. I would like to continue my activities so that I can convey this to everyone.
