A Summer of Endless Youth on Ektar 100 by So
Heads Up: Here is another guest articles. This time by So and Minh who decided to spend their summer together, and tell us about it in this refreshing Japanese bromance. Got a story to share? Use the contact page to get in touch and submit your text!
Looks like I’ve got another chance to write a blog post! And this time, I want to look back on the month I spent in Japan with Minh (@vxarea), through the lens of a new film I tried out: Kodak Ektar 100.
The first two weeks were marked by Japan’s heavy rainy season. Wet asphalt, smudged traffic lights, and Minh straddling his new frame with a convenience store bag in one hand, getting absolutely soaked. Not the warmest welcome for his first summer in Japan, but despite his resistance to going out in the humid heat, I dragged him through the city with my camera slung over my shoulder. We had plans, and even on the rainiest days, we rode through quiet backstreets and stopped by empty cafés. One of them ended up being our favorite: Aun Coffee in Osaka is a cozy spot with an incredible cake selection. When I look back at those pictures, I can still feel the humidity and remember our conversations, frozen in each frame.
For some background, I used to be a student in France, but I’ve since moved back to Japan. I met Minh in France, and traveling here with a foreign friend made me see this country in a new light. Even though I had “come home,” it still felt like I was on a journey, and I liked that. Capturing it all on film, inviting Minh to meet my homies, and kicking off a surreal summer felt almost dreamlike.
Now let’s talk bikes. That month, I rode my Mash Parallax, which had been sitting unused for a while. Compared to my usual Mash Work, it’s not the smoothest ride, but it just felt right and added to the uniqueness of the experience. We rode through temple paths, shrines, and alleys, looking at everything new to Minh, who was also chasing every bit of wind in the thick summer heat.
Despite its aggressive geometry and tight tire clearance, the Parallax turned out to be the perfect bike for discovering small coffee shops on hidden streets. It’s a bike with two modes: ON: when you want to go full gas, and OFF: when you want to cruise around at the slowest pace possible.
Throughout our rides, we often stopped by Boost, the garage/shop that’s always looked after us. It’s a spot where you can customize parts, hang out, and unwind. I got some anodizing done on my hub and chainring, and we’d stick around watching F1 and talking about everything from bikes to daily life. From our very first bike check, Boost helped with anodizing parts for Minh’s build, and it was fun watching his setup evolve as the trip went on.
Both Minh and I are into all kinds of vehicles, and that’s how we became friends, through bikes, then eventually cars. Turns out, he arrived just in time for me to take my first car to Suzuka Circuit, thanks to Boost’s invitation. We did everything: grip sessions, drifting in the mountains, late-night drives, and long conversations under quiet skies. The smell of burnt rubber, the engine sounds, talk of setups and dream builds, it was intense, but it was perfect. Some nights we stayed out until sunrise without even realizing. Minh’s excitement made me feel how rare and special it all was, and reminded me to be grateful for the people and the place I call home.
The final highlight of the trip was an alleycat race hosted by Osaka’s fixed gear community, Hishinda. The rules were simple: hit as many supermarkets as possible, then return to the start. These events bring out the older generation of riders, who often pass down parts at cheap prices to the younger crew. That intergenerational connection is what keeps the scene alive.
Minh and I teamed up for the alleycat. and we had a solid start, keeping a good pace, until I had a small crash and had to drop out. Thankfully, I wasn’t hurt, but it was a reminder that fun always comes with a bit of risk. Still, I didn’t feel discouraged. If anything, it made me love it even more. At the end of the event, someone randomly started DJing inside one of the supermarkets, and we all ended up dancing and laughing. No strict rules, no tight schedules, just a beautiful mess that somehow worked.
Later this year, I’m heading back to France to continue my studies. So if this month in Japan with Minh was one chapter, then the next one will be written on the streets of another country. No matter where I am, as long as I have my camera, a bike, maybe a car, and people I care about around me, this feeling of 永遠の青春 (endless youth) still feels like it’s only just beginning.