It was sometime in May after the hoo-ha surrounding his controversies had begun to fade into a pool of excitement for his version of Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ era that Kanye West took his wife’s hand and passport to go on a trip to Tokyo. But as May transitioned into June and June made way for July all without any signs of the Grammy winner returning to his home ground, it can be deduced that both Ye and his return ticket have gotten lost in the infectious energy of Tokyo’s bustling street.

As fans in Tokyo match heartbeats with the musical maverick as they walk shoulder to shoulder with him on the streets, it has come to attention that Ye is not the only American elite in Tokyo right now.

What is Kanye West doing in Tokyo?

At a time when fans are on their toes for his comeback, a visit lasting more than months in a country known for its creative hubs, the use of the side eye emoji by several artists as they hint at going to Tokyo, and the man of the hour himself posing with partners he has previously created magic with is simply too iconic to be a coincidence. But his recent meeting with the modern reincarnation of the little shoemaking geniuses from the classic folklore about the elves and the shoemaker, Salehe Bembury, hints that Kanye West may be making more than just songs.

The shoemaking maestro in question has previously worked with Kanye West for one of his most-hailed Yeezy collections. And it was through his collaboration with Yeezy that Bembury got himself a seat as the vice president of sneakers and men’s footwear in Versace.

Given that the once business maestro got Nike to sign him by simply drawing his designs on an hour-long flight, it would not take much for Kanye West to convince Salehe Bembury to work with him, given their history.

Are Ye and Salehe Bembury working together?

It was in 2016 when the Atlanta-born rapper was reaping the glass-breaking success of Yeezy Season 2 that he scouted then-lesser-known footwear designer, Salehe Bembury. The collaboration worked like a charm for both sides as Yeezy Seasons 3 and 4 went on to become a success. However, it seems after that the rapper developed an affinity for controversies at the same time Versace did for Bembury.

Now, as the rapper looks to stand on his own in the cut-throat world of fashion, it is very likely that he will put his trust in the tried and tested brilliance of Versace’s vice president of men’s footwear. While we are still waiting for confirmation on this, what is clear is that at this point is that you cannot take Kanye West out of Tokyo, and you definitely cannot take Tokyo out of the rapper.

Do you think Kanye West is coming back with a new Yeezy line with Salehe Bembury in Tokyo? Let us know in the comments below.