Road To The Tokyo Games: Nike X Keeenue

In a week marred by the restriction of the Tokyo Marathon for amateur runners, we look forward with hope to the Olympic Games, by celebrating Japanese running culture.

Early this week, around 38,000 runners were disappointed to find out the Tokyo Marathon would be restricted to elite runners only, with the outbreak of coronavirus being as welcome as yesterday's sushi in your lower intestine, during in a training run. According to an official statement from the event organisers, the race will be restricted to a field of just 176 runners and 30 wheelchair athletes.

A devastating blow to perhaps the most passionate distance running nation there is, and news that will make the International Olympic committee, fear the worst. Runners have been told that they can defer their entry to next year but will have to pay their entry fee again due to 'Entry Regulation', just to really rub salt into the wounds.

BUT ENOUGH OF THE DOOM AND GLOOM!

As we wait to hear what the IOC will say and do regarding the Olympic Games, let's look forward with hope, to one of the largest sporting celebrations on the planet. At Alt Run Club we want to celebrate running culture in Japan, be that a sick clothing collaborations or masterpieces from the literary world.

This week, we give our take on Nike's latest collaboration with artist Keeenue. Keeenue was born in Kanagawa, Japan in 1992, and graduated from Tama Art University in 2016. Having collaborated with Adobe and Shake Shack, she has no fear when it comes to working with big clients and her Nike collaboration exemplifies this.

The abstract style coupled with her unique and bold colour palette beautifully bring to life the labyrinth of limbs you might expect to see at any running event. You could say her Tokyo Pack looks like a running ramen (or runmen, actually no) in what is a beautiful homage to running in Japan.

Nike’s previous artist collaborations have seen Nathan Bell produce playful and illustrative pieces where he described running as mirroring the creative process. And Cody Hudson of Struggle Inc. who emphasises organic shapes and colours in his work.

But as for Keeenue’s A.I.R. (Artist In Residence) project, we think it might just be our favourite so far.

We can't wait ‘til payday, because we like! We like a lot!