EDO BALL — SEASON FOUR
江戸球
“Edo” (“江戸”), the former name for modern-day Tokyo, and “Ball” (球) are the names I’ve chosen to represent my two passions, basketball and Japanese art. The third season of Edo Ball is a melting pot of culture and people, east and west all wrapped into a series of 36 new artworks. Each artwork in the new season has an expanded story behind it and draws inspiration from Japanese mythology, players’ nicknames and basketball pop culture and lore.
I'm excited to share the fourth season of Edo Ball with 9 new artworks and imaginative stories. Enjoy the new season.
THE BAMBOO SEASON & D’Angelo Ronin
竹節 & 浪人
The Bamboo Season - The sun rises in early summer as an offseason traveller shares a moment in time underneath the newly grown bamboo canes of spring. Bamboo serves as an inspiration to the players of the summer and is a symbol of strength and growth.
Players add an array of new skills to their game like the bamboo cane adds leafs under the summer sun and hope to carry them into the
upcoming season.
Players add an array of new skills to their game like the bamboo cane adds leafs under the summer sun and hope to carry them into the
upcoming season.
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D'Angelo Ronin - D’Angelo wandered the open lands for 4 long years, inviting warriors to battle and calmly handing them their defeat. With time on the battlefield came consistency and experience, which earned the respect and ability to lead with very few words. The young warrior was now his own master and had taken upon the title of Rōnin, a samurai who is without a master or lord.
As the journey grew longer, the flame inside D’Angelo Rōnin grew larger, he was a Rōnin with fire in his heart and ice in his veins.
Created exclusively for D’Angelo & Antonio Russell.
As the journey grew longer, the flame inside D’Angelo Rōnin grew larger, he was a Rōnin with fire in his heart and ice in his veins.
Created exclusively for D’Angelo & Antonio Russell.
Shogun KG & The Ôkami & Dennis Ronin
将軍狼 & 浪人
The Okami - One of the greatest stories of Edo Ball folklore is that of the great Shogun Kevin Garnett. It was said that KG was raised by a pack of Ôkami (Japanese Wolf) in the snow-covered lands of the North.
As his pack protected the lands of Minnesota, KG protected the rim with ferocity also. His defensive skill and prowess was unmatched and evident by the skeletons left outside his packs den. Shogun Garnett’s skillset didn’t stop there, his polished array of offensive moves and intensity for game made him a strong and respected warrior throughout the lands.
As his pack protected the lands of Minnesota, KG protected the rim with ferocity also. His defensive skill and prowess was unmatched and evident by the skeletons left outside his packs den. Shogun Garnett’s skillset didn’t stop there, his polished array of offensive moves and intensity for game made him a strong and respected warrior throughout the lands.
Dennis Ronin - Possessed by passion and dedication in his belly, Dennis was a true Rōnin of the game. Rōnin were samurai without a master who drifted within society. Dennis embodied the fight of the greatest samurai’s before him but forged the way for a new generation of players.
Samurai traditionally carried two swords but The Worm was unique. His weapon of choice, the nunchaku, represented his personality and different approach to the game perfectly.
Dennis Rōnin created a new type of warrior within the game, a warrior who didn’t impact the game in the traditional manner of scoring but with effort and intensity. His iconic defensive tactics and pursuit of the boards made him one of the most iconic Rōnin’s in history.
Samurai traditionally carried two swords but The Worm was unique. His weapon of choice, the nunchaku, represented his personality and different approach to the game perfectly.
Dennis Rōnin created a new type of warrior within the game, a warrior who didn’t impact the game in the traditional manner of scoring but with effort and intensity. His iconic defensive tactics and pursuit of the boards made him one of the most iconic Rōnin’s in history.
KATANA KEMBA & The Shinobi
刀 & 忍者
Katana Kemba - Is the triumphant leader of the Charlotte clan. Recognized for his offensive skills and fearlessness in the face of an enemy, Kemba has restored respect and honour to the clan and has gracefully earned the respect of the people.
Known for his signature double katana (sword) crossover, Katana Kemba over the years has been silent in the shadows, using his skilled swordsmanship to speak for his game and clan. Kemba’s crossover is one of the deadliest within the Imperial League and myth has it that his katana swords are coated with the venom of a thousand hornets, which causes defenders to freeze and fall during the katana crossover.
Created exclusively for Kemba Walker.
Created exclusively for Kemba Walker.
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The Shinobi - Was almost impossible to identity. The only way to know that the ninja had been at a court was by the origami shuriken (throwing star) which was left at basketball courts throughout the land.
The Shinobi used an array of tactics to assassinate their opponent and almost always went to their bag of stealth tactics which included moves based on deception, espionage and surprise attacks.
Emperor Pop & SPIRIT OF THE GAME
皇 & 試合霊
Emperor Pop - As the moon settles into the night sky, Emperor Popovich accepts questions at the Imperial Palace post-game press conference.
The Emperor is a passionate collector of fine wine and as he calmly addresses the media of the land the sake flows. The Emperor's greatest treasure is kept deep within the Imperial Palace and is only showcased during press conferences and championship ceremonies. Emperor Popovich has been showered with success over his 22 year rulership and enjoys the rewards of his enduring success.
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Spirit of the Game - Every year on the final full moon of the season the underworld opens it’s gateway to the supernatural underworld. Players of the game battle father time for another year but ultimately they all will fall to the underworld and retire from the game.
The spirits of the game serve a special purpose in the underworld. Each spirit brings their own journey and passion for the game and only the greatest are granted through the gates and into the Hall of Yūrei. Yūrei are faint spirits and ghosts in the Japanese culture and religion and collectively make up the soul of the game of basketball.
