Hideo Sakuragi



EDate of birth : October 2, 1973
EPlace of birth : Zushi, Kanagawa
EFavorite trick : Inward Heel flip
EFavorite skater : Matt Hensley
EFavorite terrain : Street
EFavorite skate video : Hokus Pokus (H-Street)
ESponsors: Nomad skateboards, Darkstar wheels, Venture trucks, Blakhole grip
2007/5/7.@interviewer koji Asada.
When did you return from the US?
About 5 years ago.

How long did you live there?
About ten years. I went there on August 1st 1991 and came back exactly 10 years later on August 1st 2001.

When did you start skating?
About 20 years ago. Three years after I started skating I was so impressed with the skatboarding scene in the US, I just had to move out there. Besides decks were much cheaper in the US so I thought it would be better to live in the US if I was to pursue a skating career.

Who influenced you the most?
Matt Hensley.  In Japan, Kawamura and Hachaki. They are skaters from the early 90`s but for sure American riders influnced me more.

Where in the US did you go?
Vista, California. The video I used to watch before I left japan featured Vista scene so I really wanted to go there.

So you stayed in Vista for 10 years?
Well, I was there for the first year and half, skating with Matt Hensley and Steve Ortega from H-street. Then I decided to go back to school and enrolled in highschool in Huntington Beach. There, I became friends with Frank Hirata and got some help from SMA. After that, I transfered school in San Jose and stayed there. I often skated with Jason Adams,Tim Brauch, and Paul Sharp.

Tell me your past sponsors.
I rode for Poor House, SMA, Etnies, Trust, Platinum, Emerica, New Deal (flow), Real (flow), Stealth (Flow), Darkstar Wood & wheels now I ride forNOMAD.

What did you learn from your stay in the US?
I really got to see true skateboarding and it was a great experience to feel the pure fun of skating. Not only that but I got to improve my English. But making friends and meeting professional skaters were very valuable experience. And to be able to accomplish my dream in such environment is irreplaceable.

Have you experienced any culture shock?
Well, the first 6 months were pretty tough because of the language carrier. I couldn`t really communicate and felt lonely often but thanks to skateboarding I was able to get by.

Do you have any advice for those who want to pursue skating career in the US?
Act quickly and be really hungry to get what you want to accomplish.

What are some differences in skating between the US and Japan?
In the US, everyone is hungrier than Japanese skaters. I think that`s why Americans are at the top of the industry and the US is the center of the business. Japanese skaters worry so much about their style. They should enjoy more and try to take skating to the next level. Japanese pros are still at the amatuer level in the US. Many Japanese sponsored riders are very fortunate to get lots of products from distributors. In the Us, you can`t get products that easily. When I arrived in the US, many Americans looked at me the same way. A kid with lots of new products. So I think before you even start getting free products from your sponsors, ry to make it on the Check Out page in Transworld magazine.

What videos have you appeared in?
I was in about 25 videos. The ones I had a part were SMA video El Numero Tres released in 1993, Montage by NC Skateboard shop and Thrasher`s third Sponsor Me video. And here and there in 411 videos.

Who do you think is a hot upcoming skater?
Well, there are many good kids out there. But I don`t really see anyone that stands out at the moment. But there are still good skaters such as Souichiro, Shin Okada,Shinichi Yamada, Seisho Hayashi, Junichi Arahata and Junnosuke.

How did you get into skating?
When I moved to Kanagawa prefecture, I got to skate with professional skaters who lived near at the time and I started going to Tokyo more often.

What was your first deck?
Powell Peralta, Per Welinder with neon green grip tape. I remember learning hand plants. (laughs)
 
So was handplant the first trick you learned?
Actually I never made it. (laughs) My first tricks were tictacs and G-turns.

How do you describe your skating style?
Definitely not an all-around skater. I try to stick to things I`m good at.

Have you ever gotten fined in the US for skating?
All the time. I even paid over $100.

Have you ever gone to court?
Sure. Oh, once I was at the court and got a call from Frank Hirata to see if I wanted to ride for SMA.

What do you think about blank decks in the industry?
About pros disappearing because of blank decks sales, right? After I turned pro I realized it was a problem, too. If blank decks are hurting the industry, I think sales should be stopped.

What`s the meaning of pro?
To make money. Also to have rich experience in skating and gain respect from the peers.

How can Japanese skateboard scene get better?
Skaters need to be more hungry.

What`s your future goal?
Continue my professional career and support Nomad skateboards, Darkstar, Anex trucks, Venture and Blakhole through my distributor Vistas International. Also help the people around me and skateboard scene in Japan and abroad.

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