We knew NAHBS was coming back — after Bespoked Japan, we know it’s coming back in spades.

After Bespoked Shin-Ichi Konno and I took the Shinkansen back to Tokyo Monday. He has kindly put me up in an apartment above his shop there.

For those that don’t know him, Shin-Ichi, owner of Cherubim, is one of the highest-regarded frame builders in Japan — indeed, in the world. And as chief instructor at the world-famous Tokyo College of Cycle Design for more than a decade now, he is one of the most influential.

Bespoked was way better for me, and for NAHBS, than I could have imagined. My business partner, Paul Skilbeck, asked me to record some interviews there for our Handbuilt Bicycle News Facebook page and gather story material for the website.

I really enjoyed being a journalist — it was a blast! I met people from all over. When people found out I was the Don Walker from NAHBS, they were surprised, like “What are you doing here?” Next it was: “When is NAHBS coming back?”

The amount of respect, appreciation, and love, I felt there were humbling, as was the high regard people have for NAHBS. I had no idea. We’re working on NAHBS ’28 already, and I can’t wait to get it going.