[Ello ello. Will Smith gets ready to drop. Photo: Matt Georges]

Last winter, Vans embarked on the production of a series of shorts under the First Layer umbrella, documenting their team, their travels and, naturally, the crew’s stellar riding wherever they went.

The first First Layer to drop was the Japan section, where a crew of the Vans Euro rippers divided and conquered both the pow and the streets. Sami Luhtanen, Will Smith, Cees Wille and Benny Urban traversed the land searching for urban spots, while Nils Arvidsson, Valérian Ducourtil, Markus Keller and DBK linked up with some Car Danchi locals to tear up the pow. Our photographer Matt Georges was lucky enough to shadow both crews, and has prepared this photo essay of his time in the Land of the Rising Sun last winter…