J-Skateboard.com

How did you get into skateboarding?
Well, when I was in third grade, it was the first time I saw a skateboard. There was a group of hoodlums who used to hang out in my neighborhood near a local candy store. They were older than me and some of them were skating. And I thought that was it! I was going to be a skater!

Really? Just like that?
Really. It was a spiritual message I felt.

OK. So that`s how you got into it.
Well, not yet. I didn`t have enough money to buy a skateboard, yet. That was only when I learned the existence of skateboarding. I thought kickflip was such a cool trick.

So did you borrow a skateboard from them?
No way. I didn`t have the guts to ask them. So it was when I was in 7th grade when I got my first skateboard.

How did you get it?
I found out that someone in 8th grade skated. So I approached him and got to know him. Then I borrowed his skateboard for a week. He wasn`t that intimidating so I decided to just keep it. Well, our friendship went sour from there.

I see. Well, what was your first trick you learned?
Nollie shove-it! I could do them riding at full speed! I`m still good at it. I`ll show you one day.

How did you decide your stance?
Umm.......never thought about how I chose my stance. I used to be mongo foot but now I ride regular, the normal way.

When you started skating, what video were you watching?
The first year I started skating, I was influenced by Mouse by Girl. Also watched Welcome to Hell by Toy Machine countless times. I only skated curves back then. I could do nollie noseslide.

Where did you skate back then?
My home town Tabata. But all my friends quit so I used to ride my bicycle to Asakusa after school and skated there everyday.

What kept you from quiting skating like your other fellow skaters?
Well, as I`ve told you that spiritual message to be a skateboarder kept me skating!

How did you get your nick name Deshi? (an apprentice in Japanese)
When I was in highschool, I met a skater who was doing wallies and other crazy tricks. I was so impressed and wanted to hang out with him. He was older than me so I jokingly asked him if I could call him my "Master." He liked the idea and he started taking me to other places such as Ikebukuro. Then everytime he introduced me to his friends, he told them that I was his disciple (Deshi). So people started calling me Deshi.

Who do you often skate with?
Usually with Ikebukuro crew. On weekends I usually skate with Minami Kahchan and Wadapp. Also Akira and some other younger skaters.

How do your friends describe your personality?
Well, people definitely think that I am a pain in the ass. (laughs)

Which tour was the most fun you had?
It`s very difficult. But I think the crew you hang out with is always very important even when skating. So anytime I am with my boys is fun. This past summer I took a one-week trip to the Northeastern part of Japan and had a blast. We camped out everyday. Everything, including skating was so much fun.

Right. Traveling is great.
Yeah, I think one attractive and exciting aspect of skateboarding is traveling. I always try to travel whenever possible if skateboarding is involved. It`s something ordinary young people don`t get to experience. Skaters travel anywhere even in the country as long as there are skate spots.

I often see you skate at interesting spots but how do you find them?
Well, when I went to vocational school, I used to check different routs to school on the map and rode my bicycle around different areas. But everyone does the same when it comes to exploring for spots to skate. But when I find it, I immediately call up a photographer and pressure myself to do a trick there and get it on film.

What do you think of contests?
I rarely enter them. It`s not that I don`t care about them. I just chicken out! I want to win money! I want to be famous! But I try to get the job done outside of contests.

Where do you think skateboarding is headed in the future?
In the US , there will be special training schools for skateboarders. Maybe they already have them? Or skateboarding will be part of a curriculum in school. Also I`m afraid skate spots will disappear in cities because sooner or later they will figure out that skaters are vandalizing all the buildings. They will come up with some plans to stop us from skating in cities.

Which trick that you landed felt the best in your life?
Listen..... I get wet dreams often.... and.....well.....

Huh?
Never mind. Last time when I went to China, I found a rail where you could land into a crazy bank. I was checking to see if it was possible to do a 50-50 and ride off into the bank. Then I noticed I was surrounded by many people. The crowd got bigger and bigger. And suddenly a local Chinese skater cleared the crowd from the landing spot yelling something like "This guy is going to skate this so back off!" I was like "What?!!" I was put in the spotlight. Because the situation was getting out of control, the police showed up. So why not, I gave it a try and landed it on my first try. People chanted and cheered. I felt soooo good.

Did anyone film it?
Yep. You should be able to check it out when BP Trading (distributor) releases their video.

What was your worst injury?
I had a fracture in my wrist that I didn`t know for so long until I went to see a doctor. I always put my hand down when I fall so it sucks.

How about your ankle?
No injuries big enough to mention.

Do you stretch before skating?
Well, not really I just get on the board and slowly warm up.

Any hobbies besides skating?
Yep. Reading books.

What kind of books do you read? Any books you recommend?
I`m reading a book by Koutaro Sawaki. It`s interesting. I also read mysteries, fictions, and spiritual books. (laughs) You can find me in Doutor (coffee shop). I love being alone and do some thinking.

Oh yeah? Thinking? Then make words from each letters in SKATE.
Samurai (Japanese warrior), Kanaria (a canary bird), Amaenbo ( a spoiled child). Tai rice, Ee-ee-kimochi (good feeling). Wow, terrible word choices.

Thank you for your time. Lastly, what are your future plans?
It`s over? Well, I have a lot but I really want to make a living off skateboarding. Also I want to be on the cover of magazines overseas, And also want a videopart and take long road trips with my friends and visit many places. .........Lastly, be popular with girls.