News — News

During my recent trip to Los Angeles, I kept telling my friends how great it was to be back.

A few of them asked me the same question.

“Why is it so great to be back here? What do you miss about LA?”

It was an interesting question, and I didn't have a clear answer.

I said it was the culture, but I wasn't sure what part of the culture.

I grew up in Tokyo, spent many years in Los Angeles, and eventually moved back to Tokyo. There are many things I appreciate about life in Japan. Some of my friends in LA even told me how much they enjoy visiting Japan.

One afternoon during this trip, we had a BBQ with some friends. Comel from Time Machine came by, and there were also some families with kids there.

We decided to do suikawari for the kids, a Japanese summer tradition where someone is blindfolded, spun around, and tries to smash a watermelon with a stick while everyone around them shouts directions and tells them when to swing. And of course, we eat the watermelon afterwards.

Comel had apparently never seen it before.

He loved it.

Watching the kids enjoy it and everyone cheering them on, he said something along the lines of:

“This is why diversity is beautiful.”

America feels deeply divided in many ways right now. But there is still something I've always loved about LA.

People here seem to enjoy differences.

Not just tolerate them or accept them.

Enjoy them.

It makes you feel that you don't have to fit in either.

When people appreciate things that are different, it gives everyone a little more room to be different themselves.

That's the part of LA I miss.

Chikara
September 7, 2026

Journal Archive
TRES Journal #001 "Are You Feeling Mike Here or What?!"
TRES Journal #002 "Japan Might Have the Best Beat Scene in the World Today"
TRES Journal #003 "Before It Has a Name"
TRES Journal #004 "Craftsmanship"

What does it mean to be a professional? Whether they make records or shape surfboards, they have something in common.

The work comes first.
The language follows later.

Japan might have the strongest beat scene in the world today. It was something House Shoes said during his visit to Japan. He wasn't talking about the music.

The TRES Journal is a collection of thoughts and experiences behind the projects that shape TRES. In Journal #001, Chikara reflects on a memorable moment from the 3rd Party Special Edition with Thes One. 

Thes One (People Under The Stairs) returns to Tokyo for a special edition of the 3rd Party. Join us on July 12 for a 60+ minute Not-Just Beat Live Set, DJs, beat culture, and the return of the Next Generation Room featuring English-language activities for kids.

We’re proud to announce our official partnership with Third Party Collectives —our exclusive partner in Japan. 

Based in Tokyo, Third Party Collectives is a crew of artists rooted in '90s Hip Hop, pushing new perspectives in today’s beat scene. As our Japan partner, they run the local online shop, offering TRES vinyl, CDs, and apparel directly to Japanese fans.

Together, we’re hosting “the 3rd Party”—a regular event series in Tokyo inspired by the laid-back vibe of L.A. backyard BBQs. Free to enter and family-friendly, it’s all about good music, good vibes, and building community across borders.

The next 3rd Party event happens Sunday, 5/25/2025 in Tokyo.

Stay tuned for more releases, events, and collaborations bridging Tokyo and L.A.

Before the actual vinyl pressing process starts, you receive test pressings that are usually a set of 4 records.  Obviously, approval process of test pressing is such an important step for vinyl releases. Final products sound exactly same as the test pressing that has been approved.  I would like to share how I usually check my test pressings.

When I check my test pressings, I do two things; checking the sound quality and making sure there is no skip.

1. Checking the sound quality

 As I check sound quality, first I go through all tracks listening to pieces of each track comparing it to the CD master.  CD master is the master that is created for CD or digital download. Vinyl may sound better than CD master, but it is not easy to make that happen.  I especially pay attention to the last track of each side. Sound quality becomes worse as it gets closer to the center of vinyl. Because of that reason, I usually try to avoid having key tracks at the end of each side.

 To evaluate the sound quality of test pressing, I always compare the test pressing with other records.  I usually use People Under The Stairs “Tuxedo Rap” 12 inch as a reference. It is one of the best sounding vinyl title we have put out.  

I also choose different records to compare with depending on the length and type of the album. For example, I used House Shoes “Let It Go instrumentals” LP as a reference when I checked the test for our new release, “Doronko Beats.”  Both of these records have about 20 minutes on each side and they are both instrumental albums.

2. Making sure there is no skip

 When I make sure there is no skip on the tests, the listening condition is very important.  My turntable set-up is two technics SL1200 mk3 turntables and a rane TTM56 mixer. As many DJs do, I usually put the most weight on the tone arm so that it is hard to skip when I scratch or cue up a song.  When I check a test pressing, I adjust the weight to make it regular weight so that I can assure the record will not skip on a turntable with regular “non DJ” setting. I usually set the weight at 2 gram for this purpose.  Portable turntables are not the best device to check test pressings because records skip easier on them than on Technics or other high-end record players. After the turntable is set for it, I listen to the record from the beginning to the end twice.  No texting or checking instagram during this time. I focus on what I hear on the test.

Test pressings for Tres’s new release and my first beat album, Chikaramanga (of Giant Panda) / Doronko Beats will be available for sale here on the Tres website at 7:00pm on Friday, April 13th (Los Angeles Time).  Only 4 copies of this test pressing exist in the world. I will keep one for myself and rest of them will be available for you! Be one of 4 people who owns this test pressing! The official release of “Doronko Beats” (vinyl and digital) is May 18th, 2018.