Anonymous submission:
So back in the early 2000’s I fly into Japan with my entire Church basketball team, and I manage to convince a few of my teammates to accompany me on my pilgrimage to Kskit. Keep in mind – this is the old grimy location, back when it was still a hidden gem under the guise of a shady bodega…I caught glimpses of a few of my teammates and I could definitely see the look of regret on their faces like ‘how in the hell did I get roped into this?’
We walk up the stairs and I’m not fooling anyone this place looks like a crackhouse – why isn’t this place condemned? It’s dark, it’s dingy, and it smells like piss….we get to the door and as soon as it opens a beacon of light shines through – seriously it was like the gates of heaven opened to the most condensed amount of original shoes packed from the floor to the ceiling, aisles so close you have to side step sideways through to view all of the shoes. As I’m combing through the rows, that’s when it hits me…
My stomach is in shambles from the Sushi we ate when we touched down. A mild panic sets in when I realize I have to make an emergency exit. My teammates are looking at me like ‘WTF you drag us here and now you’re trying to get us to leave?’ Mild panic gave way to real panic. I slide down the steps, running down the road to look for a bathroom. I’m in full on sweaty freakout mode now – and – saved by the bell: McDonalds! Known throughout the world as one of the only spots with bathrooms that are always open.
I finally hobble myself back to Kskit, and as soon as I get up there, I know where to look: my eyes are drawn to the glass case in the back. Now this case is packed, 3 shoes deep on every shelf…I catch a glimpse of a pair in the way back – I’m in almost disbelief that they even exist irl – the Jordan X sample with the toecap. At the time, this is a shoe only seen in old Japanese magazines, not one pair so I’m in disbelief. I ask the guy to get them out for me…before he tells me the price…I already know I’m buying. I’m about to get married soon so I got a few Yen on me. I won’t mention what I paid, but the missus still gives me shit about these.
