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EDate of Birth : October 7, 1977 EPlace of Birth : Tokyo EFavorite Trick : Nollie Half Cab Heel Flip EFavorite Terrain : Mannual Pad EFavorite Video : Video Days (Blind) EFavorite Music : Spinner Bill EFavorite Skater : Me (laughs)  |
2005/08/ 22.@interviewer koji Asada. @John.(J) Muraken.(M) |
| OK. Let`s start.What motivates you to skate? Let`s see...... Good skate spots, friends and their reaction. What demotivates you? I don`t really have anything that demotivates me to skate...... but....oh yeah, skating alone. Right. It`s not fun to skate by yourself.How did you make it to American media? When Kris Markovich came to Japan, he hooked me up. When was that? When I was in 9th grade. J : Wow, you were young. Yep. After skating in the US for the first time, what differences in skating did you notice between Japan and the US? Hmmm.... in the US, I got the impression that everyone skated freely, doing their own things. It looked really natural and fun. But in Japan at that time, skaters were confined to certain style of skating. Everyone followed the same thing. So, how`s the current situation? I think it`s great. With me appearing in American videos, sort of helped skateboarding become popular.It has become part of youth culture and more skaters are having originality in the way they skate. So, is it headed to the right direction? Yes. And I want to help it direct to the right direction. What do you think is lacking in Japanese skate scene? Hmmm. I think people can have more fun and at the same time learn more from skating in many ways. Well, skating in japan is growing. Does it mean the society is accepting skateboarding? Sure. When our generation grows older, skateboarding will be more accepted than now. What`s your role as one of the top skaters in Japan? Role? Hmmm. Lay down skateboarding as street culture in Japan and take our Japanese skateboarding to the world. What`s the reason you started Uniful skateboards? Well, let me explain you my past career. When I got on Prime skateboards through Kris Markovich, I was so lucky.For someone who had never been to the US and just by sending some footage from Japan, everything came to meeasily. Next thing I knew, I was featured in 411 Wheels Of Fortune.I was at the right place at the right time. Then Prime went out of business and I got on Decca skateboards. Unlike my previous hook up, I had to work hard to find my next sponsor.During my days in Decca, I tried to sell my name and promote the skate scene in Japan to the world.But in 2001, Koushin, the Japanese distributor for Decca that took care of me folded. I was left sponsorless.At the same time, I didn`t want my career to be controlled by the fate of companies that I had no control of anymore.So I decided to start up my own company and help carry Japnese skate scene. Are you planning to sell the decks to the US? Ofcourse. I`m not just thinking of Japan.Now that I have more control of expressing my ideas, it`s a lot easier to make ecisions. What`s your future project? For now, concentrate on the skate scene in Asia. Promote the company in Asia then to Europe and eventually NY and LA. What do you think of Tamachi? ( a well known designated skate area) It`s a "trick factory." What other talent do you have aside from skateboarding? I`m good at turning abstarct ideas and images to something tangible and real. Who`s hot? Me (laughs). Who would you like to thank? My parents. Everyone who has supported me except Muraken (photographer)....... M: Hey, hey... Just kidding. People around me. Kids supporting me..... I appreciate them. I try not to take things fro granted. To thank and appreciate people are always in my mind.Otherwise I wouldn`t have made it as a professional skater. |
