Calling All iruka Owners: Join the first ever Flippers meeting

We are excited to announce the first-ever Flippers Meeting — a special event for iruka owners to connect, ride, and share their passion. This is the first owner gathering since iruka’s launch. We look forward to seeing you there! *Advance registration required.*

Date:

Saturday, May 27, 2023 
*Postponed to Sunday, May 28 in case of rain*

Venue:

Life Creation Space OVE 
1F, KDX Residence Minami-Aoyama, 3-4-8 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062 
(8-minute walk from Omotesando Station) 
Tel: 03-5785-0403

Program:

Part 1: Group Ride
Start/finish at OVE; approx. 15 km around Tokyo
Part 2: Developer Talk
Behind-the-scenes stories of iruka's development and what's next 
"Did you know iruka almost became a hippo?"
*You may join either part independently.*

Eligibility and Capacity:

Open to iruka owners who can bring their bike on the day 
Capacity: 10 participants

Participation Fee:

JPY 1,000 (cash on the day)

Participant Gift:

Original leather ankle band with iruka logo

Hosts:

Mark Kobayashi (Founder and President, iruka Inc.) 
Sotaro Taguchi ("The Minivelo Guy")

Guest:

Kenny Sunami (Product Designer for iruka, President of TSDESIGN Inc.)

Please bring:

- Your iruka 
- Helmet (loaners available on site if needed)

Schedule:

10:00 Check-in for Part 1 
10:15 Opening remarks 
10:30 Group ride 
12:30 Lunch break (please eat at OVE or nearby) 
13:30 Check-in for Part 2 
13:45 Developer Talk 
- Part 1: Behind-the-scenes talk with Kobayashi and Sunami 
- Part 2: What's next for iruka, with Kobayashi 
14:45 Closing remarks 
15:00 End

How to Register:

1. Fill out the registration form. 
2. Wait for confirmation. Your spot is secured upon receiving a reply from us. 
3. A reminder email will be sent the day before. 
4. Please arrive at the venue by 10:00 on the day of the event.

Notes:

- If the weather forecast for Minato-ku at 5:00 PM the day before predicts severe weather, the event will be postponed (or canceled if already on the backup day). You will be notified accordingly. 
- The venue is a cafe open to the public. Please be considerate of other guests. No outside food or drinks allowed (except bottled drinks during the ride). 
- No parking is available at the venue. Please use public transport, bring your iruka, or park in nearby paid lots if arriving by car. 
- Photos and videos taken during the event may be shared on social media. If you prefer not to be recognizable, please wear sunglasses, a mask, etc. Personal info such as names and email addresses will not be shared.

A Message from Mark Kobayashi:

"We've waited nearly three years because of the pandemic, but I'm thrilled to finally host our first Flippers Meeting. The group ride will be a casual 15 km course through fresh springtime Tokyo, designed to be enjoyable for everyone (I'm not a hardcore rider myself!). Think gear 5–7 for iruka S, or 3–4 for iruka C. In the Developer Talk, I'll be joined by our long-time partner and designer, Kenny Sunami, to share some behind-the-scenes stories we've never told before. We may even give you a sneak peek at what we're working on now. I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you flippers in person.!"