PROJECT 1.2025 
// THE CONCEPT

JANUARY 12, 2025

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Closing off 2024 and leading into 2025 we had some serious thinking to do around Kakuto Culture and where we were going. Becoming parents, travelling as a family and moving house really threw a spanner in the works when it came to putting out products we felt we could be proud of. After lots of careful consideration (including almost deciding to close Kakuto Culture down as a business before the arrival of our second baby in April this year), we decided to go all in for 2025 and while in the trenches of having two kids under two, we aim to make this year not only our biggest year in terms of work output but to create our best pieces yet. 

From the perspective of Jaz  

It actually wasn’t difficult at all for us to landing on the first project of 2025. It all started with end of year time off. Alex was home for three weeks straight and we had more time to chill. Watching anime series together has become a bit of a thing for us in recent months, so starting a new series was nothing new. My anime of choice was the new release on Netflix ‘Dan Da Dan’ and it didn’t disappoint. 

 

We both loved the crazy visuals and style of the animation. This saw us both instantly inspired to create at least one piece that was unlike any we’ve released before. Alex’s ability to draw something based on details we discuss really helped to make the most of the inspiration in the moment. His initial sketch was so sick, it made me excited to release something new for the first time in a long while. 
Alien Sumo from anime Dan Da Dan

Swipe to reveal: Original imagery of the alien sumo from anime 'Dan Da Dan' and Alex's initial sketch. 

For the second piece in Project 1, we decided to keep making our most popular pieces but with an elevated style - submission/grappling tees. Since the original Kakuto Culture brand was founded on our love of grappling and MMA, deciding to produce more grappling inspired apparel and art in 2025 was easy. Again, Alex smashed out a sketch within an hour and we knew that was our next grappling tee design in the bag. 

 

My biggest passion for our brand lies in creating packaging designs. Across my three trips to Japan, each time, I’ve geeked out over three things; food, stationary and packaging. Everything they package always has a premium feel to it regardless of the product worth. That’s something I’ve wanted to capture for Kakuto Culture from the beginning. I always start out with a stupid number of ideas and Alex helps to reign them in by thinking about the accessibility, practicality and complexity of their production (and thank God he does, because if I had it my way, we would have spent more time making packaging than the products themselves on every project). For our 2025 projects, we’re going with a more hand-made and hand-assembled feel and trying to make every component of the packaging either reusable or something you could have on display. 

"Everything they package always has a premium feel to it regardless of the product worth. That’s something I’ve wanted to capture for Kakuto Culture from the beginning."

Lastly, the biggest piece of work for me has been the backend of the business and project management. We’ve committed to business goals, invested in new tools to help use stay on track with the number of projects we aim to release this year and implemented new, refined processes that I hope will help Alex showcase his most creative work yet. For myself, my goal is to survive the newborn phase coming up in a few months alongside a very cute but very demanding one year old and stay on track with managing our project progress as well as digital and social media spaces. 

 

I can’t wait to see where this first projects goes and we’re fired up to keep the ball rolling. Here’s to 2025 and our best year to date 🥂

 

 Jaz ✌🏼

From the perspective of Alex

Project 1 for 2025 was decided and is on its way to being completed. It really was an easy choice to settle on the subject matter. Being able to enjoy some time off at the end of 2024, it allowed Jaz and I to watch some anime. Yes, I think I've finally converted her! Dan Da Dan was Jaz’s pick and it didn't disappoint. The visuals and art style is nothing short of amazing.

 

Creating and following through with art work has been a huge challenge for me, especially in 2024. I found myself stuck in a rut, losing momentum and having to restart the climb again and again and again. While I was sketching and practicing my brush work in my car on my breaks at work, I was not finishing pieces. The end of year close down at work came around and I decided to jump on the iPad and work on a piece on Procreate. Next thing I knew, I had finished a Ryu (dragon) painting. The following week, I finished another Ryu digital painting. Two pieces in two weeks was not something I thought was possible for me. I proved myself wrong. This set a mindset shift in me that is more ambitious than ever.

Final artwork of vertical posters of Blue Ryu (dragon) and Golden Ryu (dragon.

2025 marks the year of creation. With an ambitious goal to produce and release a project a month, this is going to be the most challenging goal I've taken on creatively. I used to dream about being able to produce that consistently, now, I am taking that challenge on with excitement rather than dread. This didn’t come out of nowhere, this was born out of years of falling over and experiencing the lowest of lows and the highest of highs creatively. Without the support of Jaz, I am not sure I'd be here creating stuff. Jaz and I have had many deep conversations about goals, perseverance and mindset. Things are starting to finally fall in place. There’s one more thing: our daughter, Amelia.

 

 

"I used to dream about being able to produce that consistently, now, I am taking that challenge on with excitement rather than dread."

I was watching Amelia play with her toys during my time off. A thought crossed my mind: 

 

“How can I encourage Amelia to pursue her dreams when I can’t even pursue my own?”.

 

This was an eye opening moment for me. Struggling with doubts and imposter syndrome, this moment was what I needed to give me a reality check. Those feelings will always exist, I don't think they ever go away. You just have to keep working despite how you feel. Being more on the creative side means having strong emotions that help you create. However, emotions can be tricky. A great quote I heard recently has helped me greatly;

 

“The job of your emotions is not to tell you the truth.”

 

My takeaway - feel the emotions, experience them but don’t let them trick you.

 

 Keep chasing your goals.

 

Alex 

what's next

Currently, we're working through the details to have Project 1.2025 released and we're aiming for late January to have all products available. 

 

Our Kakuto Kazuko (email subscribers) members get first dibs on these limited edition designs (10 x tees of each design). Sign up if you want the early release link to grab yours. 

 

Jaz + Alex 

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ENHO YUYA // ART TEE
ENHO YUYA // ART TEE
ENHO YUYA // ART TEE
ENHO YUYA // ART TEE

ENHO YUYA // ART TEE

$60.00
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Enhō Yūya Art Tee

A sumo legend meets anime artistry. The Enhō Yūya Art Tee takes inspiration from the powerhouse rikishi and the bold linework of Japanese animation.

This is our first Kakuto Studios x Kakuto Culture collab piece of 2025 — a high-contrast design that’s eye-catching on its own and effortless when layered up. For fans of sumo, anime, and the crossover where combat meets culture.

Features

  • 🎨 Original Enhō Yūya artwork — Japanese-inspired anime x sumo design

  • 👕 Premium blank — heavyweight AS Colour Classic Tee (220gsm)

  • 🥋 Year-round wear — breathable solo, layers easily in cooler months

  • 🗓️ 2025 release — limited, made-to-order only

  • 🎨 Colourway: white + grey shades on black tee

 

 

Care instructions //

-  Machine wash cold with like colours

-  Do not bleach

-  Do not tumble dry

-  Do not dry clean

-  Do not iron if printed

-  Line dry in shade

 

Returns policy: No exchange or refund for change of mind or incorrect size selection as this tee is made to order. Tees are produced only in the sizes purchased (not pre-made and sold retrospectively). Please ensure to check the sizing chart before making your size selection. 
PAPER FAN - RYU 4 - 1/1
PAPER FAN - RYU 4 - 1/1
PAPER FAN - RYU 4 - 1/1

PAPER FAN - RYU 4 - 1/1

$50.00

"Ryu 4" 日本の竜 - Nihon no Ryu

Japanese dragons are diverse legendary creatures in Japanese mythology and folklore. 

Hand-painted paper fan with black and grey wash ink. This piece is 1-of-1.

Painted by Alex
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