FROM DOJO TO GROW ROOM
Born into a Shotokan karate family in Los Angeles, Kenji was taught patience, precision, and respect long before he touched a plant. The dojo instilled a discipline that later became the foundation of his cultivation philosophy. His early life emphasized structure and code—values that guided him into cannabis.
CYPRESS HILL CONNECTION
In the early 1990s, martial arts and music brought Kenji into the orbit of B-Real from Cypress Hill. What began as friendship grew into collaboration. By 1991, Kenji had started cultivating, and by 1996 he was traveling to Amsterdam, exploring seeds and genetics firsthand to refine his knowledge.
BUBBA BEGINNINGS
Returning to California, Kenji became part of the circle that hunted phenos fueling the Bubba Kush movement. Seeds from the OG/Bubba crew made their way into his hands and flowered in B-Real’s home grow, marking his transition from hobbyist to tastemaker.
OG DISCIPLINE
While trends in cannabis shifted rapidly, Kenji maintained focus on OG cultivars. Over decades, he refined, tested, and perfected his grows in trusted circles. By the time Kush cemented its reputation as the king strain of California, Kenji’s work was already recognized among cultivators who knew the true source.
INSANE OG
What began as “Kenji Kush” evolved into Insane OG, an S1 of the original Josh D OG cut. Kenji worked the same pheno for over 20 years, establishing it as the flagship cultivar of Dr. Greenthumb’s. Insane OG became a symbol of lineage, consistency, and refinement, not hype.
DR. GREENTHUMB ERA
As head of cultivation, Kenji helped translate B-Real’s vision into reality. From phenotype selections to final packaged jars, his hand defined quality control. Under his leadership, Dr. Greenthumb dispensaries became known for releasing authentic strains that carried legacy credibility into the licensed era.
CULTURE CROSSOVERS
Kenji pushed Insane beyond cultivation. Through collaborations with High Rollerz Jiu-Jitsu and appearances at music festivals, he demonstrated how cannabis culture, martial arts, wellness, and lifestyle could intersect. His role extended cultivation into a holistic vision of plant and performance.
CRAFT CARTEL
Together with Arthur Isagholian, Kenji co-founded Craft Cartel, a collective built on authenticity, creativity, and originality. Its guiding ethos—“no borrowed credibility and audio matches video”—ensured that design, media, and culture aligned with integrity. Craft Cartel grew into a lifestyle brand as much as a cannabis platform.
LEGACY & LEADERSHIP
Kenji’s story is more than cultivation—it is about bridging worlds. From dojo discipline to Cypress Hill tours, from Bubba Kush phenos to Insane OG, his journey proves that cannabis success is built on equal parts craft, culture, and code. Dedication defined his path, and discipline made Insane OG endure.
YOUTUBE VIDEO
Presented by Nugg Notes
SOURCES:
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Athleisure Mag. “SMOKE & ROLL | KENJI FUJISHIMA.” Athleisure Mag, 25 July 2022, https://www.athleisuremag.com/the-latest/2022/7/25/smoke-amp-roll-kenji-fujishima.
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Athleisure Mag. “BRINGING THE SMOKE WITH B-REAL.” Athleisure Mag, 18 Oct. 2021, https://www.athleisuremag.com/the-latest/2021/10/18/bringing-the-smoke-with-b-real.
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Wilson, Dan. “Bubba Kush Turns 25 Years-Old: B-Real Reminisces.” Leafly, 4 Aug. 2023, https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/bubba-kush-strain-anniversary-shopping.
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First Smoke of the Day. “Kenji of Dr Greenthumbs Founding Bubba Kush | FSOTD Ep. 41.” Apple Podcasts, 25 Apr. 2022, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kenji-of-dr-greenthumbs-founding-bubba-kush-fsotd-ep-41/id1570204802?i=1000558612374.
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Dr. Greenthumb’s. “Insane – Dr. Greenthumbs.” doctorgreenthumbs.com, 2025, https://doctorgreenthumbs.com/pages/insane.
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Fujishima, Kenji. “Partner at Craft Cartel, Craftco Direct.” LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenji-fujishima-204a4364. Accessed 13 Sept. 2025.
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