If you grew up in L.A. like I did,

then you kind of understand just how big of a deal

Chicano and Chicana culture is out here.

And it's a way for people like myself to both honor

the lives that we have here and the lives our parents

left behind in Mexico.

When I first heard that there were

people copying Chicano culture in Japan, it seemed surreal.

I really had no idea that this world

could exist outside of L.A.

So I decided to go and find out

how this spread so far away and why.

Our first stop: the lowrider scene in Nagoya.

Lowriders are iconic to the Chicano community

in Los Angeles, and were created in the 1940s.

They came to represent rebellion, resilience

and beauty.

And so I'm curious about how these cars got here.

That's Junichi.

He's one of the godfathers of the Japanese lowrider scene,

and founded one of the oldest car clubs in Nagoya.

Junichi's been in this role for more than 30 years.

For questions about lowrider culture and Chicano culture,

he's someone who people in Japan really look up to.

[cheering]

My first introduction to lowriders

were actually people in my neighborhood.

My best friend and I growing up,

we used to build these little lowrider model cars.

All we wanted to do in life was just own

these lowrider cars.

Being here has me thinking about all of the cultures

Japan has taken on at different points.

So it's not surprising that there

are thousands of people here that

are into Chicano culture.

For our next stop, we're heading

to Osaka, the cultural capital for Chicano fashion and art.

Miki Style!

Miki Style is a D.J., and he runs

a shop called La Puerta that imports clothes from L.A.

What's your most popular shirt?

“DGA.”

Why do you think people love this shirt so much?

Miki Style reminds me of someone

who I went to middle school with.

You know, like, shaved head, baggy pants, baggy T-shirt.

He goes to L.A.

He buys clothes, and he buys gear.

And he brings it back to Japan and has a thriving business.

So when I thought about cultural appropriation

and how oftentimes there is money

being made from a certain culture

and a certain community, he potentially fit into that.

Even though Miki says he respects the culture,

it was weird seeing so much of the allied Chicano gang scene

represented in his store.

So I wanted to meet Night tha Funksta, an artist

based in Osaka whose artwork focuses on the positive aspects

of Chicano culture.

MoNa a.k.a. Sad Girl is one of Japan's most popular

Chicano-style rappers.

She's released four albums, and her international fan base

has taken her to perform in places like L.A. and San Diego.

“She's Mousey.”

“Mousey.”

“Sia.”

“Sia.”

“Maiko.”

“Maiko.”

“Wella.”

“Wella.”

“Wella.”

“Which one of these women still dress like this?”

“Nobody.”

“Nobody?

Just you?”

“Just me.

Just me.”

[laughs]

“And what do you think is the future of Chicano fashion

and culture here in Japan?”

“One, two.

Check one, two.”

“Sounds great.”

This story attracted me because it was asking

a question about belonging.

Here you had a group of people really

committed to copying Chicano culture,

but also deeply Japanese.

And so for them, it wasn't a question

of “either/or,” but more so, “and.”