From: Matt Biolos
To: My business partners, friends, customers, all the surfers and people of Japan.
Over the last week I have seen the news and watched in horror the destruction in Japan.
It is with great remorse that I see this happening to a country and culture that has been such a major part of my life and my business.
I have, in total, spent over a year of my life in Japan, starting with yearly shaping trips to Nagoya in the early 1990's and on to many visits to Tokyo over the last decade.
I have made many great friends and met many talented and amazing people.
Japan and its people have taught me many things. Honor, pride, Dedication to work and and education and steadfastly believing in the collective strength of yourselves, your community and most of all, your culture.
Its these strengths that I have witness first hand so many times that gives me confidence and gratification that you, of all countries , will come back from this even stronger.
When traveling alone and working in a different country, you envelope became into the day to day life and begin to see...at least on the surface, the way the people of that country deal with problems and adversities. Of all the many countries I have visited and worked in, no people exudes the skill, organization and selfless commitment of the individual to the greater cause of the whole community than the Japanese.
My thoughts are with Japan and the Japanese people. I feel regret and sorrow for the terrible things that you are dealing with today. But I don't fear for Japan, because I know the Japanese people, and I know they are strong and will overcome this and rise to new, greater levels once again.
Matt Biolos...Lost Surfboards.
March 16th 2011
Japanese business partners,
To my friends, customers, all surfers and the people of Japan
I've been watching the news for the past week,
I am extremely horrified by the devastation that has occurred in Japan.
Japan is the most influential country in my life and business.
I would like to express my deepest condolences for what has happened this time.
In total, I have been living in Japan for over a year.
It all started in the early 1990s when I went to Nagoya every year to get my shape up.
Over the past 10 years, I've been going to Tokyo quite often.
I've met so many good friends and met some amazingly talented people.
Japan and its people (Japanese people) have taught me a lot.
It is respect, pride, dedication in work and education,
Or the overall ability to believe in yourself, your friends, and everything.
And he taught me about the culture.
There is a strength there that I have seen and felt firsthand.
I believe you will all recover stronger than ever.
When you travel alone to a foreign country, you can see the current problems (reality = everyday life),
It allows you to calm down, take a step back and think about the bigger picture.
As do all people in countries dealing with problems and difficulties.
Of all the people from the many countries I have visited and worked with, the Japanese are the most
Individual skills, organizations, and communities that have a positive impact on the community as a whole.
It is filled with selfless dedication.
My way of thinking is the same as that of the Japanese people.
I am so sorry and saddened by what you went through today.
But I think Japan will be okay.
I know that everyone in Japan is strong.
I believe we can overcome this and reach new and better levels.
Lost Surfboard
By Matt Biolos.
March 16, 2011