During a recent visit to Japan, TJ Schneider of The Shop Vancouver reconnected with longtime friend Martin Kirby, URAHARA’s creative director now living in Tokyo.
The two share a long-standing interest in vintage motorcycles and the craftsmanship that surrounds them. While in town, they made the trip down to Kamakura to visit Blue Groove, a name well known among Harley-Davidson collectors and vintage motorcycle enthusiasts, both in Japan and internationally.
Founded in 2002 by Taka, Blue Groove started as an online venture sourcing and selling vintage motorcycle parts.
A frustrating experience with a remote transaction prompted a shift in direction: Taka began traveling to the U.S. himself, forging direct relationships with collectors, workshops, and suppliers. What emerged was not just a more reliable way to do business, but the foundation of a philosophy, do things face-to-face, prioritize trust, and build with care.
Today, Blue Groove is one of Japan’s most respected vintage Harley-Davidson workshops, specialising in models from the 1940s through the early 1980s. Blue Groove’s focus is mostly on iconic ‘Big Twin’ engine platforms, The focus includes iconic engine platforms like Knuckleheads, Panheads, and Shovelheads, each restored with a meticulous balance of technical precision and historical sensitivity. Some bikes are rebuilt from the ground up, others preserved with their original patina which is a reflection of the shop’s respect for both engineering and storytelling.
But Blue Groove isn’t just about motorcycles...
The space operates as a broader cultural hub. Vintage guitars and amplifiers line the walls, blues music plays in the background, and the atmosphere feels more like an artist’s studio than a traditional garage. Taka, a seasoned blues guitarist himself, has woven music and motorcycle culture together in a way that feels natural, not staged. Private jam sessions are common, and the shop frequently lends its space and its machines to creative projects.
Services at Blue Groove now include:
– Vintage Harley-Davidson restoration and customization
– Sales of rare motorcycles and parts
– Studio and workshop rental for media and photography
– Rental of vintage trucks and bikes for shoots and events
– Curated selection of original clothing and accessories
– Sales of vintage guitars, amps, and other analog gear
The approach is consistent throughout: slow, considered, and never overproduced. Blue Groove’s reputation has spread through word of mouth and close-knit networks and is preferred by those who care more about craft than clout.
For Schneider, whose Vancouver-based shop specialises in Japanese and American-made selvedge denim and leather goods, the visit was a chance to explore the overlap between vintage motorcycle culture and heritage menswear. For Kirby, it was a reminder of how deeply rooted this kind of analog, hands-on creativity remains in parts of Japan that don’t always make it into the spotlight.
Blue Groove is a workshop but also a preservation project, a creative space, and a quiet but significant landmark in Japan’s independent scene. It speaks to a slower, more intentional way of building things.
More from Blue Groove
bluegroove.jp
@bluegroovestyle