ROLLERS: TOKYO ROLLERZOKU GANGS, Photographs by Denny Renshaw

Among Japan's many fashion tribes, one of the less explored is the Rollerzoku. For over 40 years the Rollerzoku subculture has been borrowing greaser styles, gathering together for loud Rock n' Roll music, and sporting leather, denim and big greased up pompadours called regents. The Roller-zoku have grown from the roots of both 1950's Rock n' Roll and Rockabilly because Japanese record labels did not differentiate between these musical categories at the time of their introduction. Japan experienced the popularity of these early Rock n' Roll styles as did much of the world at that time, but it was the revival in the 1970's that brought the fashions still associated with the Roller-zoku. Japanese bands at the forefront of this musical revival, like Carol in 1972 and the Cools 1975, began associating themselves with leather jackets, greased back hair and motorcycles.

Unlike many other fashion tribes these greasers are often all ages from the young to the old. Rollerzoku can often identify themselves as members of gangs. An interesting aspect of this tribe is some members' predilection for dancing. Much like early Hip Hop was associated with breakdancing, the Rollers have their own brand of dancing, incorporating classic Rock n' Roll moves as well as intricate footwork, acrobatics, and theatricality.

This ongoing photographic series contains hundreds portraits created by New York editorial portrait photographer Denny Renshaw over many trips to Japan starting in 2013 and it continues to evolve with new work. The subjects are shown as they were found in bars, parks, shows and city sidewalks. This series has been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, CNN Style, and many others.