The three-way team situation is a part of Tokyo's skating history.
HOUYHNHNM's Skateboard Club," a series of skateboarding events hosted by Senichiro Ozawa, editor-in-chief of the skateboarding magazine "Sb," and Taro Hirano, a leading skateboard photographer. The second installment of this project, which runs in parallel with a real event at the Harajuku gallery "VACANT," was held the other day. The theme this time was "skateboarding and skate teams. Three brainchildren from Tokyo's leading skate teams, old and new, were invited to participate in this event. We will look back on the history of the skate scene in Japan, and talk about the beginnings of each skate team.
In the 1990s, as editor-in-chief of "WHEEL magazine," the first skateboarding magazine in Japan, he energetically covered skate culture in the United States, and in 2001, published "Sb SkateboardJournal. Since then, he has been writing not only about street culture but also about various aspects of domestic and international media while publishing regularly. His new trilogy of panda photogravure books, "HELLO PANDA," "PANDA MENTAL," and "HELLO PANDA CAKE," are now on sale.
Taro Hirano / Photographer
He studied photography as a contemporary art form at Musashino Art University. Later, he worked as an assistant at Kodansha and was involved in the launch of "WHEEL magazine" and "Sb," a skateboarding magazine, where he served as photo editor. Since then, he has been active in advertising, CD jackets, and fashion and culture magazines. His major works include the photo books "POOL", "Los Angeles Car Club", and "The Kings".
Mr. YOPPI / "T-19" rider, "Hombre Niño" designer
While working as a child actor in his childhood, he spent much of his youth skating. A pioneer in the Japanese skate scene, he was a rider and staff member at the long-established skate store "Stormy. In 1984, he joined Tokyo's first skate team, "T-19," and established an era. He was also the driving force behind the "Pisto Beam" movement, which reached its peak in the 1990s. In the fashion scene, he worked at stores such as "HECTIC" and is currently active as the designer of his own brand, "Hombre Niño". He has also been actively involved in DJ activities since the 1990s, and has always been trusted by the youth of the street. www.t19skateboards.com
Instagram:@yoshifumiegawa
Toru Yoshida / Member of "NEWTYPE", Director of "N.T.ORIGINAL
He is one of the founders of "NEWTYPE", the first Japanese skater video production team that made a big impact on the Japanese skating scene. 17 years old, he switched to the AJSA pro class and competed in the AJSA pro tour until 1999. In 1996, he won second place in the annual ranking in the Pro Street division, and he also achieved many other brilliant results in contests. Since then, he has been consistently taking photos and videos mainly for the media, and continues to be active as a rider with his own deck brand "N.T. ORIGINAL".
Instagram:@n.t.original
Katsumi Minami / Director of "Evisen Skateboards
Director of "Evisen Skateboards", a local skate team based in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, which is rapidly growing at a rapid pace. The team has an all-star lineup of riders who can be described as the faces of the current skate scene in Japan. Last year, he released the team's first full-length film "Evisen Video," which was previewed in more than 10 cities in Japan and abroad. The film was previewed in more than 10 cities in Japan and abroad, and created a huge buzz. The apparel line is also doing well, with collaborations with SSZ, adidas skatebording, and others. www.evisenskateboards.com
Instagram:@evisenskateboards
Taro Hirano ("Hirano")Good evening, everyone.Previous HOUYHNHNM's Skate Club (HSC)The first event was held during the daytime on Saturday, but this time the time was changed to a weekday evening and the location was moved to the 1st floor of VACANT. The theme was "Skateboarding and Skate Teams," which I was personally looking forward to.
Skate teams are different from skate brands, and are a special kind of existence.
Senichiro Ozawa ("Ozawa")A group that is working on a different vector than product, such as skate-related apparel. My idea of a skate team starts with that.
plainYes, that's right. There is a mood that only a skate team can create. From the point of view of a skateboarder who is not a member of a team like us, "T-19 note 1and "NEWTYPE". *2The unique aura that a skating team such as the "K" team exudes is something to aspire to.
Their influence has inspired many skaters to start skateboarding, and I think they have been a factor in amplifying the depth of the skate culture. What do you think, Sen-chan?
1 Tokyo's first skating team, formed in 1984 by its leader, the late Hiroshi Otaki. The team name is derived from the initial letter "T" of "TOKYO" and the "S" of "SKATES," which is the 19th letter of the alphabet counting from "A. From its formation to the present, this charismatic skating group has had a great influence on many skaters.
2 A skate team born in 1991 and still active as professional skaters in Tokyo, including Toru Yoshida, Junnosuke Yonesaka, Susumu Okada, Naotaka Oya, and Tetsuya Yasuda. The team had many unique riders in its heyday and was one of the first to release skate videos in Japan. 9 videos were released, of which "TOKYO '95" was one of Minami's influences.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Every cool skate team, whether national or international, has to have a face. Like a front man in a band.
plainThere are different character traits for each of those faces, and some teams have a leading role for many different faces, right? Like "T-19.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)But honestly, I sometimes wonder what the definition of a skating team is.
plainThat's right. Of course the lines are blurred, but I would like to hear about how you came to form the team, and about your activities as a skate team, not as a brand. I'd like to hear all kinds of things.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)I am curious as to how the team was formed. Why did the members decide to form a team? I am sure there is a story behind it, not only in terms of skills, but also in terms of the inevitability of skaters who feel some kind of sympathy for each other.
plainMm-hmm. And of course there's going to be regional. It could be broad, or it could be more localized. Or there could be teams that bring together the best and brightest from all over the country.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)That alone makes it unique.
plainSo, without further ado, let me invite our three guests. Would you all please come up to the stage?
Mr. Otaki is an amazing person for T-19, isn't he? (Plain)
YOPPIGood evening. I think I am generally known as YOPPI, but my real name is Yoshifumi Egawa. I don't even remember how long I've been skating, but it's quite a long time (laughs). Please be gentle with me today.
Toru Yoshida (hereinafter referred to as "Yoshida")Hi, I'm Toru Yoshida. I'm here today as a rider for "NEWTYPE," and I'm now a rider for "N.T. ORIGINAL.*3I am working on a brand of skate decks called "Skate Deck". Thank you very much in advance for your cooperation.
A brand that produces apparel, decks, etc. that started in 1995 in conjunction with activities such as *3 "NEWTYPE" and the later-derived "FLOWER" and "CANDY Video Magazine. It was then suspended, but in 2012, Toru Yoshida and TOMY-NT, who also works as a DJ, restarted it as a different system from that time.
Katsumi Minami ("Minami")Evisen Skateboards.*4My name is Katsumi Minami of I look forward to working with you.
4 Japan's world-class skate team, representing the Tokyo skate scene in the 2000s. It also functions as a deck brand and apparel brand, and is popular among skaters and other sensitive young people. This year, the team released its first full-length film "EVISEN VIDEO" and held a screening tour in Japan and abroad. They are currently working on their next video work.
plainThank you all. By the way, do the three of you ever meet like this?
YOPPIThere is no way. We are on opposite teams (laughs). (Laughs.) I was joking, but this is probably the first time we have ever talked face to face.
Yoshida.Hey! YOPPI, you just went out for a drink recently, didn't you? (Laughs).
YOPPIAm I right? (laughs). Well, here (pointing to Mr. Yoshida) we have the same junior high school, so I know him well.
plainI see. However, this is the first time the three of you are working together like this in the media or at an event, isn't it? That's surprising, right off the bat. By the way, in terms of generation, is "T-19" the oldest team?
YOPPII guess that's true in this group. Also, I am often misunderstood, but in fact I am not a founding member of "T-19," but joined a little after the team was formed. I joined the team a little after it was established, in 1993, I think.
plainThen who would be the founding members?
YOPPIAs far as I know, Mr. Otaki, the creator of "T-19, "*5 and Akira Ozawa *6Akihiko Nishimura *7Masanori Nemoto *8was the first founding member, I believe.
5 Hiroshi Otaki, whose real name is Hiroshi Otaki, went to the U.S. by himself in the late 1980s to learn silk-screening techniques at the actual "Dogtown" factory in Venice Beach. After returning to Japan, he started "T-19" a short time later. He passed away in 2018.
6 An early member of "T-19" and a key figure in the group. In 2007, he opened "CARNIVAL TOKYO," a store specializing in pisto bikes, with Mr. YOPPI. Today, he continues to be involved in a wide range of activities as a bicycle enthusiast while maintaining a close relationship with T-19.
7 An early member of "T-19," known by the nickname "Akeem the Dream. He used to work as a designer for "HECTIC," which he started with YOPPI, and is currently active as a designer for his own brand "Reserved Note," as well as providing artwork for famous musicians. He has also moved abroad and is fluent in foreign languages. He is a friend of various artists, including skaters from abroad.
8 One of the founding members of "T-19". Nicknamed Saluda. He is a genuine skater from Kitasenju. Among the unique members of "T-19," he was favored by many skaters for his fashion sense with an original sensibility.
plainWeren't we working as a team before that?
YOPPIOh, that was before that, when there was a team called "TOKYO SKATES," which was the predecessor of T-19.
plainMr. Otaki is an amazing person for "T-19", isn't he? I and Sen-chan have interviewed him several times for "WHEEL magazine" and "Sb SkateboardJournal," and there are stories that I still remember.
It was when Mr. Otaki was working at a silk-screening factory related to "Dogtown" in California, U.S.A., where he was fascinated by skate culture, that he suddenly decided to quit the job after working for a while at a store where he could be involved in skating, which he loved so much.
When asked why, he said that all the local skaters are just playing while skating and always look like they are having fun. They don't see skating as a job. Then he realized that he just had to do the same thing in Japan. Then you were able to do it, weren't you?
YOPPIYes, I have heard that. The reason why I joined "T-19" was also because of America. At the time, I was seeking sponsorship from overseas brands as a professional skateboarder, so I went to the U.S. by myself.
So, without an appointment, my hero at the time, Tommy Guerrero. note 9 (supplementary information) to see him, and the first thing he said was, "Sponsor me!" *10I called out to him.
9 One of San Francisco's leading professional skaters, he is one of the few people who have succeeded as a musician as well as a skater. He continues to be active in music, both as a solo artist and in a band, and has recently formed the "BLKTOP PROJECT" with five other legendary skaters, including his friend Ray Barbee. He is also known among skaters for his story of joining the popular "Bones Brigade" team when he was just a teenager.
10 Sponsorship is an essential part of a skater's career development. The term is said to have become popular because skaters send their best video works to skate brands, companies, and skaters as a means of promoting themselves.
plainIn person without an appointment? That's amazing.
YOPPINaturally, I was like, "Who are you? But as we talked, we became good friends, and I began to deepen my friendship with Mr. Otaki, who was also good friends with Guerrero.
I felt that I could make the skate culture in Japan more active without being in the U.S., just like him, and I joined "T-19" as soon as I returned to Japan. So you joined "T-19" right after returning to Japan.
plainAt that time, in the late 80's, YOPPI was already participating in overseas skateboarding competitions and was one of the first to be aware of overseas activities, right?
YOPPIThe first tournament I participated in was "San Bannaslama 3" in Atlanta, Georgia.*11 I was in the same boat. At the time, Lotte and Converse sponsored the trip to Japan, and Aki Akiyama led us.
11 A major skate event held across the United States in the late 1980s. It is known that some skaters from Japan, including YOPPI and Aki Akiyama, participated in the event.
Instead of aspiring to America, we can create our own Tokyo-style skate team. (YOPPI)
plainThat's the one that was also on video, right? I miss it.
YOPPIYes, yes. So if you look closely at that video, you can see me there (laughs).
plainThat is valuable footage. However, with Mr. Otaki's presence in the midst of all this, there is no need to chase after the US anymore.
YOPPIThat's right. I thought that just admiring America was not enough to get anything done, and that we should create our own skating team that would be unique to Tokyo. So Mr. Otaki selected "T-19" at that time.
I was the only one among them who was not sponsored by a deck brand, so I talked to Mr. Otaki about it, and he said, "Then let's make a deck at T-19," and I joined as a member.
The photo projected on the screen shows Mr. Otaki, the boss of "T-19" (right), and Devilman Nishioka (left), who had been following the skate scene in Japan since its dawn. Both are now deceased, so this is a valuable photo that holds deep feelings for YOPPI.
plainI see. What were your main activities after the formation of the group?
YOPPIHmmm...I don't think it's that different from now, but we go to competitions and go on tours with the team.
plainBy the way, YOPPI, what made you start skateboarding?
YOPPIIn my case, as I often say in magazines, I first wanted to start surfing to be popular. But surfboards are much more expensive than skateboards, and even if I wanted to surf, I couldn't do it right away in Tokyo. So skateboarding naturally became more familiar to me.
plainI understand. I would like to do it right away. By the way, YOPPI, you seem to be one of the younger members of the "T-19" team.
YOPPIThat's right. When I first joined, I was teased by Mr. Otaki and other senior members who did power slides in front of me, like they were testing my liver.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)That's very typical of you, Mr. Otaki (laughs).
plainIn my mind, "T-19" has something special that sets it apart from others.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Hmmm, I wonder. For me, I have always thought that the team tasted like hamburgers. Even though I am in Tokyo, I feel like I am in America.
T-19" was not only a skateboarding team, but also a friendly group of friends who were always there for each other. For Mr. YOPPI, these moments outside of skateboarding, such as meals and in the car during the tour, are also important memories.
This is a picture of the "T-19" members gathered at a skate park in Chiba, Japan. The wall slide is by YOPPI, who was the director of the brand "HECTIC" at the time, and the photo was taken for a visual look.
The Jabu Jabu Pond in Shinjuku was a fierce battleground where fierce competitors would gather from the Kanto region. (Toru Yoshida)
plainHow did Katsumi and others view the "T-19"?
MINAMIIn my case, "T-19" was a generation away, so I was more like I grew up watching "NEWTYPE". And maybe Toru of "NEWTYPE" grew up watching "T-19". He hardly grazed me in the field.
plainI see. So, at the height of the "T-19" era, Katsumi was not skateboarding yet?
MINAMII started skating when I was just 13 years old, in junior high school, which was around the beginning of the 90s in terms of time. So, I came to know about "T-19" later, and if anything, "NEWTYPE" was a perfect fit for my generation.
plainI see. And this Toru-kun is also a junior in YOPPI's school, is that right?
Yoshida.Yes, we were junior high school seniors and juniors. We were junior and senior in junior high school, but Egawa had just graduated when I entered the school, so there was no overlap between us.
plainYou didn't cover it, but you knew it existed?
Yoshida.Well, at the time, there were rumors that I was in a drama series and that there seemed to be a senior who was an actor at the same school (laughs).
YOPPIYou don't have to talk about it, you don't have to (laughs).
plainYeah, yeah, yeah. Well, it's just something. But it's great that we are both seniors and juniors in the same junior high school, and we are both active in the skateboarding culture.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)It is very Tokyo-like, isn't it? By the way, in the case of YOPPI, you mentioned that you joined "T-19," which was created mainly by Mr. Otaki, but Toru and Katsumi created their own skate team, right? I would like to hear a little bit about that.
Yoshida.At that time, my local spot was Jabu Jabu Pond in Shinjuku. *12It was in the area around the "K" area, and it was a battleground where fierce competitors gathered from the Kanto region.
In the early 90's, the skating style that had been mainstream until then and the freestyle style that existed at that time, where you skated on the flat, were mixed together, and it was the time when the street style was starting to change to what it is today. It was a time of contests with a lot of R sections, and that was the only way to get to the top.
Among them, we hit it off with a group of unknowns who were good at skateboarding, and some of us started calling ourselves "NEWTYPE.
12 A common name for a pond in Shinjuku Chuo Park. The bank (, slope ), curb (curb), stair (stair), etc., which were located in the park, were busy street spots that could be called sacred ground for skaters in the Kanto area in the late 80s and late 90s, when there were few places to skate. Competitions organized by "California Street," a skate store in Daikanyama, were held regularly, and it is also known as the place where "NEWTYPE" was formed.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)The selected members had to be more than just good players, right? For example, in sports such as basketball and soccer, there is a certain amount of team tactics, but the criteria for selection are those who are good at what they do. In the case of skateboarding, I feel that there is more to it than that.
Yoshida.Yes, I think so. I guess we are on the same wavelength or in the same groove. And then there is the former "H-Street. *13The late Mike Tanasky of *14PLAN-B, a superstar group founded by*15It was also a time when new types of skate companies were coming out, such as the "Skate Company," so there was some influence from that.
13 A skate brand that took the world by storm in the late 1980s. The skate decks with stylish graphics that dominated the scene at the time became so popular that they were difficult to obtain. As a filmmaker, the brand also produced many classic videos such as "Hokus Pokus" and "SHACKLE ME NOT" featuring Danny Way as a child.
14 He made his professional debut in the 80's when "Powell Peralta" discovered his talent. Since then, he has worked for various skate brands including "NEW DEAL" and is one of the legendary skaters. He currently runs "Elephant Brand Skateboards" and is famous for his "DRIVE" film series, which he shot while traveling around the world as a pioneer street skater.
15 A representative skate team of the 90's that established an era with many skaters from "H-Street". The team includes Danny Way, Mad Hensley, Sal Barbier, Rick Howard, Mike Carroll, and many other prominent skaters.
YOPPIH-Street... I miss it. In my generation, it was "Hokus Pokus.*16was a masterpiece among masterpieces.
16 A legendary video released by "H-Street" in 1989, "Hokus Pokus" is a masterpiece for YOPPI, YOSHIDA, and HIRANO, and is said to have changed the way skate videos were created after "Hokus Pokus.
plainHokus Pokus" is a real masterpiece, isn't it? I digress a bit, but I see. So, at that time, the skate scene was moving toward a new phase, and there was a new movement in the Jabu-Jabu Pond in Tokyo.
They began taking videos as a way to appeal to the public, which is different from competitions. (Toru Yoshida)
kozawa (Clausena lansium)I don't suppose the skate team has a written contract, of course, and it seems like Toru approached all the riders?
plainEven if you are skating with your friends all the time, there are days when they will suddenly ask you to join our team. one day, and suddenly they ask you to join our team.
Yoshida.Well, yes. It was more like a teamer or a biker gang in Shibuya at the time, rather than a sporting event (laughs).
YOPPIOh, really (laughs)? Are you a cheemer?
Yoshida.Oh, no (laughs). It's just a flirtation, or a sense of camaraderie like that, you know (laughs). In the beginning, we just wrote "NEWTYPE" on skate decks with DIY postcards, but then we decided to make a video, and we started making videos.
plainWe were all still young then, right?
Yoshida.shoplifting *17 Junnosuke (Yonesaka) *18I was in the eighth grade or something. I am sure I am young when I think about it now (laughs).
17 A core member who founded "NEWTYPE" with Mr. Toru Yoshida. He is the oldest member of "NEWTYPE", and is loved as the brain of the team or as a big brother.
18 A legendary skater who has been recognized as an "ollie master" in the Japanese skate scene for many years, he is the pride of Japan, and has been active overseas with support from the American skate brand "MENACE," which has a strong HIPHOP flavor, and the European brand "Cliche. He has also worked overseas with the support of the American skate brand "MENACE" and the European brand "Cliche". He is still active as a professional skater, and is now 41 years old.
plainBut from this period, the work of video became an indispensable method for skating teams.
YOPPIYou used a good camera, didn't you?
Yoshida.I started out with a home video camera, a Hi-8 or Beta, as they call it.
plainYeah, yeah, and that's why we're moving to fish-eye lenses at some point.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)After a certain point in each team's history, did making films become an existential value or status as a skating team?
YOPPIWe have only been making things for profit (laughs).
kozawa (Clausena lansium)You mean something that conveys the image of the team.
YOPPIThat's right. It was a commercial video made to coincide with the launch of Denim, so it is not a purely visual work, it is for commercial purposes (laughs).
Yoshida.The "T-19" people were basically active in competitions, and of course we also participated in competitions, but we started shooting videos as another way of appealing to the public.
MINAMISo we watched the "NEWTYPE" and decided not to enter any competitions, but to work as a team to preserve our visual works.
plainMm-hmm. It's a beautiful, beautiful flow.
This is the first time "NEWTYPE" was featured in "WARP magazine". It includes profiles of the riders of "NEWTYPE" at that time, valuable interviews, and a "HOW TO" page.
In the latter half of the lecture, digest videos of many films released by "NEWTYPE" in the early 90's were shown, showing many tricks that were popular in the 90's, many locations that are no longer used, and many precious scenes including filming techniques that are now outdated. As they watched the footage, hosts Hirano and Yoshida led a lively discussion about the filming and the secrets of the shoot, with many in the audience commenting on the nostalgia of the past.
It is no exaggeration to say that I was shocked by the "NEWTYPE" video and have grown up with videos ever since. (Katsumi Minami)
MINAMIThe historical background that Toru mentioned earlier is not only the skate culture, but also the general spread of home-use cameras in the 1990s.
From that point on, I think the young people of today are the same way, but we are a generation in which it became commonplace to shoot videos with guns. Younger people may take pictures with their smartphones or other devices.
plainIn the U.S. in the 80's, several large skate companies used to shoot with proper equipment, but because of this background, small companies, local skate teams, stores, and skaters were able to shoot easily, and the number of video productions itself has increased dramatically.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Why did "NEWTYPE" decide to make videos in the first place? Was it simply because if we simply entered competitions, we wouldn't be able to differentiate ourselves from the existing skating teams that had been around until then?
Yoshida.The video work was something we shot on a daily basis as a separate vector from the competitions. The natural progression was that if we could improve the quality of our work and sell our name as a team and as individual riders, we would receive sponsorships.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)YOPPI said "Sponsor me!" directly to the local skater heroes in San Francisco. while Toru approached the local skater heroes in San Francisco with his own video. with their own video.
MINAMII've been watching the "NEWTYPE" videos from those days to the point where I can't stop looking at them, and I especially like the ones from '94 and '95.
Yoshida.Yes, that's right. Some time after "NEWTYPE" began, Susumu Okada *19Alexander Lee Chang *20TOMY-NT *21With the addition of "NEWTYPE", the number of riders has nearly doubled since its establishment, so we decided to create a separate team within "NEWTYPE". That is "FLOWER. *22It is like a second line for today's apparel brands.
19 While in Japan, he received support from the American skate company "Prime Skateboard," and left a video part for a Japanese skater for a foreign brand, which was a historic achievement at the time. He is currently producing his own private apparel brand "Push Connection" and planning events.
20 Born in San Francisco, Alexander LeeChang is an individualistic skater who has been blowing new winds in the domestic skate scene since the 1990s. In parallel with his activities as a skater, he started his own brand "AlexanderLeeChang" in 2003, and reopened the flagship store "2 [Ni]" in 2015. Recently, he also manages the skate section of Vans. Known as a camping and plant enthusiast in his private life, this spring he showed that he is still going strong by releasing a full-length video of himself skating for the first time in 14 years.
21 As an AJSA certified professional skater, he has been active in the forefront of the scene, achieving brilliant results in numerous competitions. He then joined "NEWTYPE" in 1993, and has left behind a lot of footage from the hottest films of the time. Currently, he is also active as a DJ, appearing mainly at events in the skate culture and HIPHOP areas.
22 A filmmaker and videomaker who carries on the spirit of "NEWTYPE," he has been involved in various forms of skateboarding video productions in Japan, including his own work such as the DVD "Subspecies" released in 2012, and continues to contribute to the scene while staying in the background.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)That's interesting.
Yoshida.I imagine it's like "GIRL" and "CHOCOLATE". *23Right? Like a sibling brand.
23 Famous sibling brands among skaters. It is said that they started "GIRL" as a white brand and "CHOCOLATE" as a colored brand with skater-like irony as the characteristics of each brand.
YOPPISome of these films were produced by T-19, weren't they?
Yoshida.That's right! We are a skate team of different generations, but we had a friendship among teams and individuals at all, so the third piece we released from "NEWTYPE" contains the image footage we received from "T-19". I miss them so much.
plainIt's interesting to hear the story again and see how the timeline and parts of the story that I didn't know about at the time are connected. I wonder if the students are keeping up? (Laughs)
kozawa (Clausena lansium)If you have any questions while listening to the talk, you can ask them at the end, or you can check out HOUYHNHNM's article again. Katsumi was so taken by the existence of "NEWTYPE" and their video works that he went on to create "Evisen Skateboards," a team that represents the current Tokyo skate scene.
MINAMIThat's right. When I first started skateboarding seriously, I was shocked when I saw the "NEWTYPE" video, and I have been influenced by it ever since, to the extent that it is no exaggeration to say that I grew up on videos.
He always wanted to shoot cool films. So I started seeking out and shooting cool riders from all over the country in my 20s, and as I went along, I met a bunch of skaters I could say were my friends, and we decided to start a skate team with them.
plainSo you didn't even have the name "Evisen Skateboards" at first?
MINAMINo, I didn't. I didn't think about anything. I simply wanted to make images.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)That was Katsumi's first work, "NIGHT PROWLER. *24That's what you're saying, right?
24 Katsumi Minami self-released his first work as a filmer in 2009. It was also a hot topic because it featured eminent skaters from all over Japan, which was unprecedented in Japan's skate scene, which until then had been localized. It is regarded as an immortal masterpiece in the Japanese skate video industry.
MINAMIThat's right. In my case, it was not derived from a local place, but rather I had traveled around the country to places such as Osaka, Sendai, and Fukuoka as my personal work, and as I visited those places many times for filming, I thought that it would be faster to form a team.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)I see that "Evisen Skateboards" also has a different style from "T-19" and "NEWTYPE".
MINAMII started "Evisen Skateboards" in 2011, around the time when the number of small brands and small local skate teams like us started to increase not only in Tokyo but also in the US and Europe. The trend was changing, whereas before it was only the big skate companies.
A group photo showing all the riders of EVISEN Skatebords featured in Eyescream magazine circa 2017. The photo was taken by Katsuhide Morimoto, a photographer at the forefront of the fashion scene who is also a friend of Minami's.
In our case, we are constantly in contact with young people. (Katsumi Minami)
plainIf you look at this photo (a group photo of the Evisen Skateboards riders projected on the screen), there are almost 10 of us.
MINAMIThat's right. At first there were four of us or something like that.
plainWho are these four people?
MINAMIShinpei Ueno, Osaka *25Shintaro Maruyama in Sendai, Masayoshi Imamura in Tokyo *26I'm the one who is the best at what I do. Before we were teammates, we were really just friends who got along well with each other. And unlike Egawa-san and Toru-kun, we formed this team after I became an old man, so there was a good sense of distance between us.
25 The most influential professional skater in Japan today. While riding for "Evisen Skateboards," he runs a skate company called "TIGHTBOOTH PRODUCTION" based in Osaka, and his "LENZ" video series, which he directed, has received worldwide acclaim. His apparel line of the same name is also popular, and in 2016 he opened "SHRED," a head store near Osaka Station. Hiroshi Fujiwara has also declared himself "MY HERO" on SNS, making him a rare presence that attracts attention from outside the skate scene as well.
26 Original member of the "Evisen Skateboards" team. With a hardcore skating style, he is a popular skater with guest parts in various brands other than "Evisen Skateboards".
kozawa (Clausena lansium)When you become friends with an uncle, don't you immediately go out for a drink?
MINAMIYes, I do. When I am filming and have shot my quota for the day, I immediately go out for a drink (laughs).
plainThat's nice.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Maybe there's a part of today's skaters that can't talk without footage anymore.
MINAMIThat's right. We are completely in the groove.
plainAre you and Toru no longer presenting your works as "NEWTYPE"?
Yoshida.Around 2000, each of us became busy with our own solo activities, and after that period, our activities as a team were in a state of hiatus. *27 The last time all members left one part for a piece called "Introduction" in the "Introduction" section of the
After that, it's like each person has left a part in their own sponsorship or some other work. As long as one of the members continues skateboarding activities, the name "NEWTYPE" will never disappear.
27 A filmmaker and videomaker who has inherited the spirit of "NEWTYPE," he has been involved in various forms of skateboarding video productions in Japan, including his own work such as the DVD "Subspecies" released in 2012, and has contributed to the scene while remaining a dedicated black man.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)I see. By the way, what do you think about the metabolism of teams that established an era like "T-19" and "NEWTYPE" or "Evisen Skateboards" that represent today?
MINAMIIn our case, we are constantly in contact with young people. If young people are interested in "Evisen Skateboards," they will approach us, just as I was inspired by "NEWTYPE.
plainIs that still like the baptism that YOPPI-san was subjected to when he first joined "T-19", where he would try and push it to the very edge with power slides?
MINAMII wouldn't do that, as you can imagine (laughs). But the other day, I received a video from a 9-year-old saying, "Sponsor me," and I thought, "That's too young to judge. I have an 8-year-old myself, but he's still just a kid (laughs).
plainWell, that's right. But in Katsumi's case, it's also whether or not we are on the same page. Is it simply as a human being? Or in terms of skating sense?
MINAMIBoth.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)On the other hand, what do you and Toru and others think of "Evisen Skateboards"?
Yoshida.I am simply envious. They are able to do things that we could not do.
plainYeah, yeah. And "Evisen Skateboards" is very popular for apparel right now.
MINAMIThanks to you, things are going well. But originally, it was only to make money to make skate videos, but I got busy with that job as well, so it's kind of like a complete turnaround. So now, I'm devoted to filming, editing, and behind-the-scenes apparel work.
That is exactly the kind of role that only Mr. Ohtaki can play, as Mr. Egawa mentioned earlier. But of course, I am not the only one who can share the responsibility.
plainAnd your video works are also highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad, and you've been showing them overseas as well.
MINAMIThat's right. We did it in New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, and so on.
plainWhat was the response?
MINAMIThe point of excitement differs from country to country, but we were able to get a good response.
plainI think it helped people recognize skateboarding images that are uniquely Japanese.
MINAMII think it is because of that. Morita-kun of "FESN" was the first to create such Japanese-style skateboarding images, and I think that was a big part of the groundwork.
plainOf course, there is this way of making images and the unique Japanese skating style, but there are also differences in location and environment.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Is it time to ask everyone about the future?
plainIf so, I would first like to ask Mr. YOPPI who will be the next person to lead "T-19" now that Mr. Otaki is gone.
YOPPII knew that only Mr. Otaki could play that role. The pressure is tremendous. The first anniversary of the death of Mr. Otaki's wife has just passed, so I think I will think about it little by little from now on.
Since next year is 2019, I thought it would be a good time for "T-19" to resume. I hope you can look forward to that time, while we recharge our batteries for the rest of this year.
plainThank you very much. How about you, Toru?
Yoshida.I still continue to do various skateboarding-related activities in addition to my brand, and I want to keep skating the same.
plainThank you very much. Last but not least, Katsumi, please.
MINAMII would be happy if I could skateboard all the time, too.
plainThank you all very much. And now, I realized that my time has come again, so I would like to end this time. The next event will be held on the 17th of next month on the first floor of VACANT, the same place as today. The next theme will be "Skateboarding and Art. Who will be the guests and what will they talk about? Please look forward to it.
HOUYHNHNM SKATEBOARD CLUB
Various cultural events have been launched under the name "VACANT CULTURE CLUB" in the first floor space of the Harajuku gallery "VACANT," which was renovated this summer. As part of this initiative, we will hold hands-on lecture events on the theme of HOUYHNHNM's and skate culture.
The main hosts will be "Sb" editor-in-chief Chiichiro Ozawa and photographer Taro Hirano, and the event will be held once a month in a round-table discussion format, with a different theme and guests each time, and with the participation of general participants (auditing students).
Also, workshops where event participants and visitors can actually experience the products will be held on an irregular basis. Stay tuned. Below are the details of the third event.
