Today we’re having a chat with Kossy, a tattoo artist based in Takayama, Japan. He works at Sanca Studio, loves cycling, and recently started running. Rather than treating sport as competition, he values moving his body in nature at his own pace. We spoke about his fresh perspective on running and the small discoveries he has found in everyday life.
Hi Kossy. Could you briefly introduce yourself? What does your daily life look like?
Hello Emanuele! I’m a tattoo artist in Hida Takayama, Japan, a small town of about 80,000 people located at 600 meters above sea level. I usually wake up in the morning, stretch, go for a run, ride my bike to my shop, and spend the day tattooing.
I heard you only started running recently. What made you begin? What discoveries have you made while trying something new?
I’ve always loved bike camping and casual rides, but for some reason what I spent the most time doing was long-distance cycling, pushing my body hard to feel deep fatigue. Whenever I had time, I would ride long distances. But year after year, it started taking more time and more distance to feel satisfied with that level of exhaustion. After completing a 200 km ride with 3,000 meters of elevation gain over more than 12 hours, I realized it took too much time just to feel that fatigue and sense of achievement. I still felt accomplished, but it was inefficient. That’s when I discovered running, a way to put stress on my body in a much shorter time, and I became deeply absorbed in it. It’s only been about six months since I started, but I’ve realized that running gives me not only physical stress, but even more mental stress. I feel that if I continue running, it will greatly strengthen my mind. Since I started running, I no longer seek physical strain from cycling. Now I can go camping by bike, ride to eat something delicious, and simply enjoy cycling for what it is. I love cycling even more now. I’m grateful to running.
"Nature has no limits, that’s why playing in it never feels finished"
Since you’ve just started, you might be noticing many things for the first time. When you run, have your feelings or thoughts changed in any way?
It’s only been about six months, so I’m not sure yet if my mindset has changed. But I feel that running is the simplest and most accessible form of exercise, and an easy way to strengthen both body and mind. I’m excited to see how continuing to run will change my thinking and my body in the future.
Tattooing is both physical and deeply mental work. Do you see any connection between tattooing and sports? Do they influence each other?
Right now, I’m not sure what the direct connection between tattooing and sports is. But by engaging in two completely different fields, my daily life feels balanced. The joy and pleasure I gain from cycling and running definitely have a positive influence on my tattoo work.
“I don’t look for exhaustion anymore. I look for growth.”
From the perspective of someone new to running, how does it feel compared to cycling? What does each give you?
Running is training; cycling is play. Having both keeps my body and mind balanced. Because I discovered running, I can now purely enjoy cycling again. One thing I’ve always loved about cycling is customizing my bike and transforming it into my ideal visual image. In the same way, with running, through daily training, diet control, and choosing gear, I’ve found joy in gradually transforming my own body. I think that’s something cycling and running have in common.
I have to share something personal here. I once visited Takayama and it left a deep impression on me. It’s probably there that I had the best ramen of my life. The atmosphere, the mountains, the quiet streets, it’s a place that stays with you.
What is it like living and training in Takayama? What makes your land special?
Takayama ramen is delicious, isn’t it? Takayama sits at 600 meters above sea level and is surrounded by mountains, blessed with nature. It’s a perfect place for bike camping, mountain biking, and trail running. The only hard part is that if you want to go far by bike, you always have to cross tough mountain passes, which can feel painful sometimes! But riding and running in this kind of environment naturally turns into high-intensity training, and maybe that’s a good thing.
Are there any routes or places that are particularly meaningful to you?
There’s an 18 km forest road that I love riding on my hardtail MTB. In Japan, long gravel roads are rare, so being able to ride 18 km continuously through the mountains is something special.
When you run or ride, are you looking for challenge, peace, or both?
Since I started running, I look for challenge in running and peace in cycling. It’s a very good balance.
Why do you think so many people today feel the need to return to outdoor sports and nature?
When we were children, many of us played in nearby mountains or on grass and dirt in parks. As we grow up, we move away from those places and start spending time in artificial environments created by humans. Those environments can be fun, but I think they lack the sense of freedom, joy, struggle, and even fear that nature can evoke. Artificial environments have limits to their enjoyment, but playing in the unknown environment of nature offers infinite possibilities. I think people who have grown tired of artificial forms of entertainment unconsciously start looking back to nature, wanting to play freely like they did as children.
Japanese culture values discipline and repetition. Has that influenced your approach to training or sport?
I think it has influenced me a lot. I hadn’t consciously thought about it until you asked. Even in play, I create my own rules and training methods, deliberately putting myself through hardship instead of only seeking comfort. By continuing through that difficulty, I can enjoy things more deeply. I think this is strongly influenced by Japanese culture. Thanks to your question, I realized that discipline and consistency are important elements of play… even though when I was younger, I disliked those strict ideas!
What would you say to someone who wants to start running or cycling but feels it’s too late or they’re not fit enough?
I highly recommend starting with cycling! Even if you don’t have much fitness, a bike becomes a partner that helps you move comfortably. There’s the joy of customizing your bike, going camping with friends, riding in nature, there are many ways to enjoy it. Anyone can enjoy cycling regardless of age or fitness level. And if riding makes you want to go farther or faster, then running will probably feel easier to start too. Both cycling and running will definitely help you grow if you continue them.
