Sharp Frames, Sharper Looks. The Future of Stratos
I am lucky enough to be surrounded by friends with amazing projects and jobs within the “cycling sphere.” Today, I want to share an interview I did with Kaito a few months ago when he took me to the Stratos Workshop, one of the last remaining Keirin frame builders in the Tokyo area.
And besides always being effortlessly good-looking, Kaito is also very inspiring when it comes to preserving traditional craftsmanship and passing down knowledge from generation to generation.
Hey Kaito! Could you quickly introduce yourself?
Sure! I’m Kaito, a frame builder here at Stratos. We specialized in Keirin/NJS frames, among other things.
How did you start riding fixed gear?
My dad and my brother are both Keirin racers. I used to race BMX when I was younger, but after a pretty big injury, I realized that competition wasn’t for me. Since cycling was in the family, I naturally transitioned to fixed gear, but never to race. I always thought building the bikes was the coolest part, so I started aiming for that and asked my dad to take me to a bunch of builders.
I studied at Tokyo College of Cycle Design, then taught there for two years. Now, I’ve been at Stratos for three years.
How did you start working for Stratos?
When I was teaching at the Tokyo College of Cycle Design, I met my master for the first time. After seeing his work for years and finally meeting him in person, I absolutely wanted to work there, no matter what. We talked about it, and surprisingly, he was open to the idea despite being so used to working on his own.
He’s well over 70 now, and the more I think about it, the more I feel responsible for continuing Stratos and making it thrive through the knowledge he has passed down to me.
Every Keirin builder has their own little details. What’s your favorite thing about Stratos frames?
In my opinion, the most beautiful part of our bikes is the way we shape the seat lug, where the seatstays join the top and seat tubes. Especially the way we integrate the clamping mechanism, it’s just smooth and very refined.
As a frame builder, what is your favorite thing about your job?
The first thing that comes to mind is the satisfaction of finishing all the welding. Even though the frame is still very raw, at that moment, it officially becomes a bike frame. What used to be just a bunch of pipes is now something complete, and that’s the moment they truly come to life for me. To this day, it’s still the best feeling.
What’s your take on everything you see from frame builders overseas?
Everything they do with technology, like 3D-printed lugs and parts, is very impressive compared to our more traditional approach. But I don’t think one method is superior to the other. It’s more of a cultural difference since there isn’t just one way to build a bike.
As long as you love what you do and enjoy doing it, you’re on the right path. For me, I’ve always loved the super tight lugs of NJS frames. They just look so good to me, and that’s the style I’ve always wanted to pursue.
Is there anything you’d like to say to the people who are going to read this interview?
One thing that I’d love to communicate with everyone: From an outsider’s perspective, it might seem like NJS frames haven’t evolved in decades, the style is the same, and they look unchanged. But in reality, we are constantly refining how we build, weld, file, and think about improving our craft.
It may look like we’re only making tiny steps, but trust me, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes.
There’s something truly amazing about those who gather the courage to live and thrive solely through their craft.
Balancing between tradition and innovation, Kaito walks that fine line, and it shows in his work on Flow Lab. Stay tuned for an upcoming article on that very soon!
