A new story of Vans "Always Pushing" vol.2. Creativity of skater Rimio Morishige.

Always Pushing. Inspired by the freedom, passion, and positive attitude fostered by skateboarding, Vans' new brand story is about creating the future we want and pushing culture in that direction together. This article is part of a series that explores the "Always Pushing" of the people supported by Vans. This time, we feature Rinjo Morishige, who was the top performer in TIGHTBOOTH PRODUCTION's skate video "LENZ III". We asked him about his participation in "Vans" events overseas and what he values in filming.

Text_Shogo Komatsu
Edit_Amane Yasuda

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The international scene that inspires .

-The "LENZ III" by Tight Booth Productions, which was released last year, was quite a hit, wasn't it?

Morishige:I gave it my all, and I'm really happy to hear from various skaters that it was good.

-Are there any particular challenges with "LENZ III"?

Morishige:The security was very strict at the spot for the last scene, and I went there for about five days. . I tried to get in when I could, but they would get mad at me. Then I would move, take a break, and go back. It took a lot of time.

--What do you think about when you shoot a precious one?

Morishige:. I go in with the mindset of "I'm going to make a decision as quickly as possible, and I'm going to finish this for sure. When I am going to challenge a very scary spot, I just go in with energy and vigor. If I think about it, I get more and more scared. I believe in myself that I can do it.

-What do you keep in mind when you are shooting?

Morishige:. First, shoot for tricks that no one else has done. . If it is a trick that someone else has already done, try to improve on it.

-I'm sure there are spots where you have failed many times. What motivates you to keep trying?

Morishige:I guess I just simply love skateboarding .

-What are some of your favorite moments when you are skateboarding?

Morishige:. as well as the moment when I was able to do something I couldn't do, and just pushing is fun.

-Are there things that bother you?

Morishige:When there are tricks I can't do, I think I'll try harder rather than worry about it. I don't worry about it.

-I see that you went to China and Malaysia for the video "PETALS" released in February this year by VANS APAC, the Asian team of "Vans".

Morishige:There were many spots I had never seen before, which was fun, and security was more relaxed than in Japan, so it was easy to skateboard. It was also good to meet and befriend many good skaters.

-What kind of communication did you have?

Morishige:I am not good at English, so I couldn't speak much, but if you like skateboarding, you think like me, so I enjoyed spending time with them and could communicate with them in many ways. The way skaters in other countries play is almost the same as in Japan.

-What do you find attractive about skiing on the street?

Morishige:The sections on the street are not made for skateboarding, so it is interesting to attack them. Also, when you skate on the street, you are bound to get angry, so thinking about how to avoid getting angry is something you can only do on the street.

-I'm sure you'll learn how to deal with it and how to handle it without being offended.

Morishige:Yes, that's right. It is also surprisingly important to greet people as much as possible, and to give proper responses. If I am polite, they may say, "Okay, just three more times.

. -In July of this year, he participated in "The Bunt Jam 2024" hosted by Vans in Canada.

Morishige:It was my first time to Toronto , and it was a lot of fun. It was an event that combined skateboarding and basketball, and it was a great experience to see professional skaters seriously battling it out in a 3-on-3 basketball game or something like that.

-I think you must have gotten some good inspiration from the Vans riders in other countries.

Morishige:Yes, it was. . It was really exciting to have sessions with skaters I had seen in "Thrasher Magazine" and skate videos since I was a child.

-What was one of the most memorable moments for you?

Morishige:A pro skater named Zion Wright was trying a very difficult trick. He couldn't ride it very well, but he tried many times and finally decided to do it at the end. When I saw that, I felt how amazing pro skaters really are, and I felt like, "Cool! . I felt satisfied to have seen such a great moment. I felt satisfied to have seen a good moment.

Creative thinking is paramount.

-What has been the most gratifying makeup experience for you so far?

Morishige:From sixth grade to eighth grade, I was filming my first skate video part. There was a big handrail spot, and I thought I could outdo myself if I made it up, but I was too scared to do it at all, and I ended up not making the deadline. But the filmer said we had one day to go shoot, so I got my dad to drive us there and the three of us went. So I overcame my fear and made it up, and I don't think I'll ever forget that moment. I was so happy that I started to cry. After that, the filmer, who had treated me well since I was a little girl, passed away, but the makeup I did at that time remains as a motivation for me.

-What is the best moment for you when you are shooting a video?

Morishige:I am happy when the film is completed and previewed. It is a great moment to realize that we have made it this far.

-. It is important to have friends who work together to create a work of art, isn't it?

Morishige:We skate together, go on skate trips, and he is an indispensable and important part of my development. It makes me stronger.

-A skate trip with like-minded friends sounds like fun.

Morishige:When I was in high school, I went on tour all over Japan with a crew called "Apple," which was founded by Kento Yoshioka, and it was like my youth. We didn't have much money, but we all wanted to skateboard, and we all had a strong desire to film. Going to Fukuoka, Hiroshima, and Osaka with a lot of energy was a memorable experience, and I think it is the reason why I like skateboarding now.

--What are the criteria for coolness in your videos?

Morishige:Everyone has their own preferences, but what I think is cool is when someone uses a spot creatively and in a way that I have not seen before.

-It's important to think creatively.

Morishige:. Yes, I think that is the most important thing. There are skaters who can run into big handrails, which I can't do, and I can't compete with international skaters in terms of size. But I think that if I have creativity and flexibility, I may be able to shine brighter than others. I try to challenge myself to do things that no one else is doing.

-When you are shooting, are there any things other than tricks that you pay attention to in order to get a good image?

Morishige:. I am thinking about coloring the tops and bottoms. When I shoot at night, the screen is completely black, so even a single point of color looks good. （I learned this from Shinpei Ueno, and it is something I also pay attention to.

-What shoes are you wearing these days?

Morishige:The "Rowan 2." . I like the form, which is not too rugged and not too slim. . It's a new model, but it still has classic nuances, and I like that it's not too high-tech. I also like the softness of the sole, which conforms to my feet. . They are durable and hard to break.

-Finally, what is your ideal skater?

Morishige:One goal is to produce my own signature deck.

-What do you think we should do now to achieve this?

Morishige:Contests are not my thing, and I don't do well in them at all. . so I will try to make a video with a creative mindset, get a good part, take good pictures, and try to get it published in a magazine. I just have to keep going.