STYLE01_Mana Sasaki
PROFILE
Born in 2003 in Kanagawa Prefecture. He started skateboarding at age 6 and has been skating for about 17 years. He began his career as a professional skateboarder around the age of 20, following the release of his signature board by the deck brand “Reske.”
Instagram:@manasasaki_
—What kind of activities do you usually do? I hear you do all sorts of things besides skating.
While working as a professional skateboarder, I also work part-time as a shop clerk at “Under R” and attend college. Other than that, I occasionally take on modeling jobs.
—What kind of moves do you perform as a professional skater?
I do photo shoots for the shoe brand that sponsors me about once or twice a month. For example, I mainly skate on the streets for their shoe ads, and they film and photograph me doing that.
—By the way, have you decided what you’re going to do after you graduate from college?
I haven’t decided for sure yet, but I’m currently doing a behind-the-scenes internship at the modeling agency that’s been supporting me. There are so many cool skaters with a unique vibe, but they tend to shy away from the spotlight. That’s exactly why I think that if I, as a skater, can break down that barrier by working behind the scenes, it’ll ultimately benefit the skater community as well.
—What got you into skateboarding in the first place?
When I was a kid, I loved watching airplanes, so I used to go to a park called Jonan Island, and apparently there happened to be a skate park there that piqued my interest. I don’t remember any of that myself, though (laughs). That Christmas, I asked Santa for a Tony Hawk complete skateboard. I was six years old at the time.
—It’s pretty precocious to get interested in skateboarding at age 6.
At first, I’d just lie down and play around with it—it felt like just another toy. But as I kept going to skateboarding school, I made friends and gradually got more and more into it. I’ve been skating nonstop ever since—for about 17 years now.
—What is the personal style you value most as a skater?
I believe that simplicity is ultimately the coolest approach—rather than cramming in as many tricks as possible—so I really prioritize not overdoing it. Even though new trick combinations keep popping up all the time, I want to perfect the basic moves I’ve been doing since I first started skateboarding, like the push and the ollie. I think that by stripping away the excess, I can make them look even cooler.
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—Please tell us about Mana's personal style when it comes to fashion.
I really like a slim fit. I think people tend to associate skaters with a loose silhouette, but I’m the type who gets bothered by excess movement in my clothes while I’m skating. I prefer clothes that fit snugly, and since I want to feel the board up close, I always choose shoes with thin soles.
—Was there a skater with a slender build that you looked up to?
When I first saw Dylan Leader, I was pretty blown away. He was skating in what looked like a white shirt and black skinny jeans, and I thought, “Who is this guy?!” While many skaters tend to choose baggier clothes, he showed me that “it’s okay for someone like this to exist, too.”
—Do you think 〈Lee〉’s “101” would go well with Mana’s everyday style?
I usually go for jeans when I’m skating, too. I wear straight-leg jeans, making sure to pull them up well above my waist so there’s no extra fabric in the crotch. These “101” jeans fit perfectly around the waist and hug my hips just right—they’re the best. I plan to wear them a lot while I’m skating.
