HOUYHNHNM's skateboarding series "HOUYHNHNM Skateboard Club" is hosted by Senichiro Ozawa, editor-in-chief of the skateboarding magazine "Sb", and Taro Hirano, a leading skateboard photographer. The real event was recently held for the first time at the gallery "VACANT" in Harajuku. The theme of the event was "Skateboarding and Skate Shops," and featured a number of famous skate store owners from the Tokyo suburbs, who discussed the role of skate stores in the skate scene that is gaining momentum in preparation for the 2020 sports festival. The skate shop owners will talk about their experiences and their plans.
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. Shoro Homma / Representative of "INSTANT
Born in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, he started skateboarding with the second skateboarding boom in the 80's, especially among young people. In 1995, he established "Instant Skateboard Shop" in Urayasu, and in 1996, he became a competition committee member of the All Japan Skateboarding Association, where he also served as a contest MC. In 2011, he opened the second "Instant Skateboard Shop" in Kichijoji, and in 2015, he opened the third store in Chiba and the fourth store in Odaiba. instants.co.jp/
Instagram: @instant_skateboard_shop
Hideya Kojima / Owner of FABRIC
Born in Chuo-ku, Tokyo. With over 30 years of skating experience, he opened his own skate store, FABRIC, in his hometown of Yokohama in 2005. With the motto "a skate store for skaters by skaters", he is constantly pursuing the ideal of a store that is loved by the local community. He also serves as the representative of the Yokohama Skateboard Association, a non-profit organization. www.fabric045.com
Instagram: fabric045
Akinori Hagiwara / Representative of "FAT BROS
Representative of FAT BROS, a local skate store that will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2019. He continues to promote the appeal of skate culture based in Nakano, and also conducts community-based skateboarding-related activities such as the "Nakano Ward Skateboard Class," which is held free of charge for children on an irregular basis, and "Midnight Express," which is held at Heavy Sick ZERO on the first Thursday of every month. He is also involved in community-based skateboarding-related activities. fatbros.net/
Instagram: fatbros_hag
Mr. Shintaro Kanai / Representative of Prime Skateboard
After working as a manager at a long-established skateboard store in Daikanyama, he started the highly sensitive skate & select store "Prime Skateboard" in Kanda, Tokyo in 2015. Prime Skateboard has been attracting attention as a skate store of the new era, employing the revolutionary online ordering system "BUILDER". This year, the store also launched its original apparel brand "clumsy. prime-skateboard.com/
Instagram: prime_tokyo
From left to right: Mr. Hagiwara of "FAT BROS," Mr. Honma of "INSTANT," Mr. Ozawa, Mr. Hirano, and Mr. Kojima of "FABRIC.
Taro Hirano ("Hirano")Thank you very much for coming today. This lecture event, which will be officially launched this time, is based on skate culture, but it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. One of them is the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There is already a lot of controversy and talk about it in the skater community. When I thought about what we can do in this situation, I thought that we should not only focus on who won gold medals or what Japanese skaters have done, but I hope that the people involved in this project can fill in the blanks by providing a little more information about what skateboarding culture is all about. We started this project with the hope that the people involved in the project would fill in the gaps and fill in the gaps in the skateboarding culture. The reason why I chose skate stores as the theme for the first installment is because I felt that skate stores are inseparable from skate culture, and that skate stores are very important. I started skateboarding in earnest when I was in junior high school, and I was very nervous about going to a skate store. At the time, I didn't know much about skateboarding culture, and I had a somewhat scary image of skateboarding, but when I entered the store, the sight of decks with cool graphics lined up in a row and the unique smell that differs from store to store made me very excited. STORMY note 1I remember the smell of "garam". I'd like to talk about the skate stores I used to go to, the recent situation of skate stores, and the charms you can't get from mail-order shops, etc.
1 Founded in 1977, this skate and snowboard store supported the Tokyo skate scene in the 1980s and boasted a lineup of eminent figures, including YOPPI, the current designer of Hombre Nino, and enjoyed the height of its popularity until the late 1990s. The scent of "garam," a brand of cigarettes, was in the air at the time, and garam became popular among skaters. Even today, the smell of "STORMY" is sure to bring back memories for many skaters.
Senichiro Ozawa ("Ozawa")I am the same as Taro.
plainYou're going to keep it that way, aren't you? (Laughter).
kozawa (Clausena lansium)(Laughs). I usually get a chance to talk to people individually at "Sb," but I think it is valuable to have this opportunity to hear the voices of the store owners together. I think I can learn a lot from them. By the way, where was the first skate store you went to?
plainIn my case, I think it's probably still there, but "Circus Circus" in Hatagaya *2That's right. It wasn't a skate store, but a store with BMX and mini 4WD. At the time, the movie "E.T." was being made. *3I was influenced by "KUWAHARA," and all my friends around me were riding "KUWAHARA. And there, for some reason, <POWELL PERALTA *4I saw a "THRASHER", a "Gonz" deck, and a skate magazine. Then, I tried out "THRASHER *5When I was browsing through the magazine, an advertisement page for an overseas skate store at the end of the magazine caught my eye. There were not that many skate decks in the store at the time, and the visuals were very impressive and cool. Among them, VISION STREET WEAR *6There was a deck called "Psycho Stick" with a jagged shape and '80s-style graphics. I couldn't find it at Circus Circus, so I checked skate stores in Tokyo and found that STORMY in Harajuku seemed to have it. That's where I bought my first skate deck. From there, I got into skating and went to "VIOLENT GRIND" in Shimokitazawa. *7and "MAX MOTION" in Ueno *8You get to know "VIOLENT GRIND". Especially "VIOLENT GRIND" was close to where I lived at the time, and "THRASHER" was the first to arrive, so I used to go there often. At that time, all the skater staffs were scared of me, and I was the one who was going to sell "POWELL PERALTA" and "Lance Mountain" to them. note 9 (supplementary information)When I bring them a board of "I'm sorry," they look at me and say, "Chech" (laughs).
2 A long-established cycle store that has been in the Hatagaya area since the 1980s. At that time, the store stocked skate goods and magazines in small quantities, which excited many boys, including Mr. Hirano, at that time.
3 A national science fiction movie released in 1982 and one of Steven Spielberg's best-known works. In the famous image, the main character Elliot puts E.T. in the front basket and pedals his bicycle to the moon. The model for that bicycle was KUWAHARA's "KZ-01," which gained explosive popularity at the time.
4 Founded in 1976 by Ph.D. George Powell and pro skater Stacy Peralta, the skate brand The Ripper, also known as "Nozoki Bones," features graphics by skate art master Vernon Cortlandt Johnson. The graphics of The Ripper, also known as "Nosoki Bones," were created by skate art master Vernon Courtland Johnson.
5 Founded in San Francisco in 1981, it is the leading skateboarding magazine in the United States for crying out loud. Every skater yearns to be a part of it. Not only the magazine but also the apparel line is popular.
6 A skate brand founded in 1976 by Alan Gelfand, also known as the creator of No-Hand Ollie.
7 A long-established skate store established in Shimokitazawa in 1987. With punk rock and skating as its theme, it established the way of being of a delinquent skater at that time. Even without a physical store, the store's popularity continues to grow, and last year it held an anniversary party to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The store is also known for the graphics created by the genius "Passhead.
8 This skate store in Ueno was opened in 1984 by Aki Akiyama, who is famous as Japan's first professional skater. At the time, the store made many sensational efforts as a skate store, such as producing AD visuals featuring one of the few Japanese skaters in the world, and holding skate contests.
9 A signature rider of the charismatic skate team "Bones Brigade" who is now famous for his activities as an artist. His impressive pool riding attracts many skaters, and he is also the one and only skate hero for this project's host, Mr. Hirano.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Like Mr. Black?
plainSo did Kuro, who was the store manager, and all the staff at the time who wore riders (laughs).
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Maybe one of the "chech" speakers was Mr. Honma of "INSTANT," who was a college student at the time, who would take the podium later (laughs).
plainAt that time, the store was frequented by all kinds of street-culture-savvy, deep-pocketed people. If I heard that my child was hanging out in such a scary place full of skulls, I would probably warn him now (laughs). (Laughs.) But back then, I was surrounded by older people I had never met before, and sometimes I was teased. I have fond memories of spending what little allowance I had to buy stickers and pin badges. At the end of the year, we would have raffles to win valuable skate items that would be unthinkable nowadays. It was like a candy store with a side of urban skate culture. Another memorable skate store experience for me was my first trip to the U.S. when I was in the second year of junior high school. I was anxious about my first trip to the U.S., but my mind was full of skating, so I stayed in a city called Sacramento. *10It was a store called "Kohl's". Nowadays, there is an abundance of information and items from overseas can be easily obtained through mail order, but it is still exciting to visit an actual store. It's not just about shopping, it's about the atmosphere you can only get at the store and the conversations you can have with the staff. It is at a store that you can get these things.
10 A local skate store that existed in Sacramento, California in the 1980s. It is one of the stores that Mr. Hirano has deep feelings for.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)When I was choosing a store to take a friend who wanted to start skateboarding, I would sometimes introduce him to a store that suited him. For friends who knew nothing about skating, I would let them build their own decks to get them interested in skating, rather than going to a store that would be friendly and helpful. *11For example, if I feel that a skate shop is not suitable for my needs, or if I feel that I need some solid advice, I may introduce them to the Kichijoji store of "INSTANT". Each skate store has its own personality and color, so finding a store that suits you is part of its charm.
11 A skate store in the town of Hikarigaoka, Nerima-ku, Tokyo, which has long been a driving force in the skate scene. Currently, it is operated only online. The host of this project, Mr. Ozawa, places a great deal of trust in this store.
plainThat's right. That's why all the skate stores we have approached this time are private stores. This is because the personality of the owner or the store owner is reflected in the store as it is. Stores that are rooted in the local community and "Supreme *12Some stores have become boutiques, like the one in the "Mere Old Man. I think that the market has become much more diversified than it used to be.
12 A brand that has established an absolute position in street fashion. Last year, the collaboration of the century with Louis Vuitton was a big hit. The brand supports many cool youth skaters in New York, especially Jason Dill, as riders. This year, the brand plans to release its first video work since "cherry.
A frame from the "SKATE SUPPLY" owner's Instagram was shown on the screen
I thought it would be interesting to have an independent skate store like ours in the middle of a business district. （Kanai.)
kozawa (Clausena lansium)In Portland, where I was working the other day, they only sell original decks! I was in Portland on business the other day and there was a store that only sold original decks!
plainOh, that's interesting too. I also found an interesting skate store on my recent trip to Hawaii. It's called SKATE SUPPLY. *13It's called "The Shop," and you don't have a physical store, but rather a van that travels to various parks and spots.
13 An unorthodox skate store that travels to various local spots in Hawaii in a van and operates a mobile store wherever it goes. This year, Mr. Hirano visited Hawaii on business and came across this interesting store.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)That's interesting.
plainThen it's time to have the owners of each store take the stage.
(Mr. Honma of "INSTANT", Mr. Hagiwara of "FATBROS", Mr. Kojima of "FABRIC", and Mr. Kanai of "prime skateboradshop" will be present here.)
kozawa (Clausena lansium)It's a fresh lineup when they are lined up like this.
plainI think we have a great variety of members. First of all, what made you decide to start a skate store?
Shoro Homma ("Homma")It would be too long to talk about it all here, so I'll just cut it off a little bit and say that we did what we had to do because we had to do it.
plainIt is very implicit (laughs).
official size of a tatami mat for measuring room size (esp. a Kyoto-size tatami mat)It's a really long story (laughs). Originally I was an office worker after graduating from university, but I got tired of that office life and quit the company right away. After that, I met a former skater friend of mine and we started hanging out in his hometown of Urayasu, a rural town in Chiba Prefecture, or rather, a fishing town at the time. We were talking about how it would be great if we could open a skate store someday, even though there was nothing there, and before I knew it, he had become my partner in running the store. That was 24 years ago.
plainI see. I would like to talk to everyone a bit like this, but how was it for you, Kojima-san?
Hideya Kojima ("Kojima")Like Mr. Homma, I used to like skating, but I got a job at a construction company that had nothing to do with skating. I was traveling all over the country, and while I was looking at skate stores in the regions I visited, I realized that I really liked skating, and I always thought that I would like to open a skate store someday. A while later, I had a turning point in my life. A friend of mine got a job at a local skate agency, and I started to talk to them and help them out a little bit. Then, the agency was going to open a store in Yokohama, and I and Hisashi Nakamura, the current owner of "5NUTS," were appointed as staff members of the store. *14I was a member of the "FABRIC" team. Five years later, I opened my own restaurant, "FABRIC," in Yokohama, which I had longed for.
14 A professional skater known as one of the best spot seekers in Japan. The skate store he works at, 5NUTS, is one of the most popular local skate stores in Yokohama, and is also popular with "FABRIC. He is also an old friend of Mr. Kojima.
plainThank you very much. Next, Mr. Hagiwara, would you mind?
Akinori Hagiwara (hereafter, Hagiwara)I often went to San Francisco and LA before opening my own store, and while looking at the stores there, I thought that I would like to open a store with this kind of atmosphere in Japan. After I came back to Japan, I happened to know someone who ran a store in Nakano, and I started helping him out. After a while, he told me, "You can do whatever you want, Hagi-chan," and I decided to open a skate store.
plainHow long ago was that?
reedy fieldIt was 1994, so almost 25 years ago. I am originally from Asakusa, but by then I was completely familiar with Nakano, and Morita, who later presided over "FESN" and other events *15The restaurant became much livelier with the addition of a new owner. By that time, the style of the store as we know it today was almost established.
15 A rare professional skater and filmmaker who is indispensable to the Japanese skate scene. While being a member of the "FAT BROS" family, he opened the cruiser specialty store "FESN laboratory" in the same Nakano area last year. This year, he also started his career as a contemporary artist.
plainThat was 25 years ago. I am deeply moved.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Then how about Kanai-san, who is the youngest in this group?
Shintaro Kanai (Kanai)My age is surprisingly old (laughs). In my case, my background is different from everyone else's. I have never worked outside of the skateboarding industry. My last job was at "CALIFORNIA STREET" in Daikanyama, which still exists today. *16I worked there for about 10 years from the age of 20. Unlike other stores, this store was not very local and had many novice customers. Because of this trend, we were expanding our business nationwide while strengthening our web presence, etc. I decided that I could do it that way, and I created the store I work at now. The theme that I inherited from my previous store is to make skateboarding items easy to buy.
16 A long-established skateboard store based in Daikanyama since its establishment in 1988. With over 3,000 skate items on display at any given time, the shop has fans not only in Tokyo but also throughout Japan.
plainIs there any particular reason why you chose Kanda as the location for your store?
financial well beingThe main reason is that I was tired of Shibuya (laughs). (Laughs) Also, I am originally from Chiyoda Ward, and I used to skate in Tokyo Station, Yurakucho, and Otemachi, so I chose this location because of that connection. Also, there used to be only big skate stores and sports stores in this area, so I thought it would be interesting to have an independent skate store like ours in the middle of the business district. We are challenging ourselves every day.
Mr. Kanai of "prime skateborad" is holding the microphone at the far right.
Culture will not take root even if there are only stores. (Homma)
plainYeah, yeah, yeah. I think the city is important for a skate store. I think that Harajuku and Daikanyama don't have a local feel, which is a key word for today. For me, a store in my town sounds more like a skate store than a store that started in a big city.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)So then, you are aware that Homma-san has a number of local stores?
official size of a tatami mat for measuring room size (esp. a Kyoto-size tatami mat)That's right. We always make sure that each store is a combination of local spots and local riders. Culture does not take root in a store just because it is a store. There are young people who skate, and they turn the streets and parks into local spots, which attracts a lot of people, who eventually become customers of the store. That is the ideal form of a skate store.
plainDo you still have such an old-fashioned skate store scene these days?
official size of a tatami mat for measuring room size (esp. a Kyoto-size tatami mat)In the past that was a wide area, but nowadays you can find them scattered everywhere. As the population of skaters grows, the area becomes smaller and smaller, and the number of stores inevitably increases.
plainI see.
official size of a tatami mat for measuring room size (esp. a Kyoto-size tatami mat)So in the old days, you often wondered where the skate stores were. So, in the old days, you used to look for skate shops, didn't you? Nowadays, you can find skate shops anywhere. At least in Tokyo.
plainThe number of good skaters is increasing, so there are not only more stores but also more teams.
official size of a tatami mat for measuring room size (esp. a Kyoto-size tatami mat)Yes, yes. It is interesting to see the different styles of the stores, such as the punk style store and the hip-hop style team. It is the same with "INSTANT," which I run. INSTANT" is not a chain of stores, but rather, each store is an independent local store. Otherwise, it would be just a select store that sells things.
plainWhenever I hear the news that "INSTANT" is opening a new store, I am always surprised and excited to hear that they are going to open a store there. In the case of "FAT BROS," local skaters in Nakano, led by Mr. Hagiwara and Mr. Morita, gather there, don't they?
reedy fieldWell, yes. After all, everyone is a sampler. *17I have skated with a lot of skaters. I have had drinks not only with skaters, but also with the security guard at Sun Plaza the other day.
17 If you are a local, you know that this is one of the most famous skate spots in Nakano.
plainWhat?
kozawa (Clausena lansium)It's the next stage of skaters (laughs).
reedy fieldWe have both been in Nakano for decades, so we know each other well. There is another izakaya called "Hikobaru" run by skaters, and all the customers there are also friends. In Nakano, everyone is connected as a local friend, even those who are not skaters.
plainMr. Matsushima of PADDLERS COFFEE *18You also mentioned that Nakano is your hometown and that you were drawn to "FAT BROS".
18 Co-president of PADDLERS COFFEE, located on the outskirts of Nishihara shopping district between Hatagaya and Yoyogi Uehara. A native of Nakano Ward, he is also a genuine skater. His favorite place is "FAT BROS".
reedy fieldAh, you must be Matchan. I was drawn in, or rather, I came in by myself (laughs).
Skate culture itself is a style wars, so the store must also have style (Kojima).
plainI guess it must have made a strong impression. It's good to have a restaurant in town that is such a speciality. It's wonderful. Then, it's Kanda that I'm interested in, isn't it? How about you, Kanai-san?
financial well beingWell, Kanda, or Chiyoda-ku itself, is not so crowded, so the number of local people is gradually increasing, but in terms of numbers, it is not yet there. Also, skaters from nearby Koto and Sumida wards often come to the store.
plainIt seems like on holidays and such, there would be a lot less people all together.
financial well beingThat's right. That's why the current store is also expanding to other parts of Japan, mainly via the web, so it will probably look different from local stores. However, we want to create a store with individuality, which is why "prime skateborad" is stylish and has a state-of-the-art web system. *19I think it is a matter of pursuing the "what" and "how".
19 The "Builder," a revolutionary system that allows users to build complete decks on the web, is one of the attractions of this store, which aims to be a user-first store. If you are interested, try it out on the website. prime-skateboard.com/builder/
kozawa (Clausena lansium)That sounds very modern, I like it. You are the complete opposite, aren't you, Mr. Kojima? (Laughs).
small islandI have no idea about the web.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)I knew it (laughs). (Laughs) If you want to be stylish, you have said to a customer, "You should go home! (laughs). (laughs).
small islandThat's... yes (laughs). (laughs) A major skate store opened nearby, so I told them, "You should go there.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Is that like talking about it a lot and then spoon-feeding it to him, saying, "He doesn't understand.
small islandThere is also that, and there is also what you feel the moment you meet. [NINJA] Bearing. *20After I explained to him about the "I'll go to a store in Shibuya now and buy it! I'm going to go to a store in Shibuya to buy some now. What the hell are you doing here? (Laughs). (Laughs.) When that kind of thing happens frequently, I think to myself, "You should go to that store over there.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)I see... I see (laughs). By the way, is your store basically like Kojima-san's "FABRIC," where you try to serve customers well?
20 Japan's world-class bearing brand with the No.1 share in the domestic market. A wide variety of bearing lineups are available to suit your deck and your style. The standard is the ABEC7 series, which offers excellent cost performance.
official size of a tatami mat for measuring room size (esp. a Kyoto-size tatami mat)In our case, we also put a lot of effort into our website, and like Kojima-kun, I sometimes spend hours talking with a single customer. So I can understand both. However, in the end, it is the customer's choice, so I think it is important to keep our own style. There are shops that offer a large selection of items and provide friendly and courteous service! Some stores have a large selection of items and provide friendly and courteous service, while others are more like "follow me! There are stores that have a lot of items and are friendly and courteous to customers, and there are stores that are like, "Follow me! As I talk about this, I remember that everyone is nervous and anxious when buying a deck for the first time. That's why it's important to choose the right store. It will make a big difference in your skate life afterwards.
KojimaYes, that's right. Skate culture itself is a style wars, so a store must also have a style. That's why I think of opening a store as an extension of skating.
plainYeah, yeah, sure.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)The style is important, but what sells best at a store is also a part of the store's color. In that sense, I would like to know what decks have sold the best in each store in the past.
plainAccording to Passhead, Black of "VIOLENT GRIND" is a <ZORLAC *21There is an anecdote that you sold the most decks in the world. I'm curious.
21 A hardcore minded skate brand born in 1978 in Texas, USA. Passhead, as you know, was in charge of the various graphics that symbolize the brand.
reedy fieldWe are completely MAGENTA SKATEBOARDS *22I guess.
22 A skate brand born in France in 2010. The founders are Soi Pandey and Vivienne Feil. In 2012, they released a board with a guest part by Takahiro Morita, an old friend.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)You also put out a guest board for Morita.
reedy fieldSince attending the Japan tour with [MAGENTA SKATEBOARDS], whenever they come to Japan, we go skating together, hang out, and sometimes stay at my house. We have a good relationship as skaters who get along with each other beyond the boundaries of a brand and a store.
plainUsually, a distributor acts as an agent, attending to skate teams and brands from overseas and taking care of them when they come to Japan, but it is interesting that they are coming to Japan to become such a local store.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)It's interesting to note that French decks are selling best in Nakano.
plainWhat's the selling deck on "INSTANT?"
official size of a tatami mat for measuring room size (esp. a Kyoto-size tatami mat)I've been thinking about this for a while now, but I don't always have the numbers for EC and each store in my head, so I don't know the details, but my personal feeling is that it is what is called a store board with the store name "INSTANT" on it.
plainIsn't it nice that private label store boards are selling the best?
official size of a tatami mat for measuring room size (esp. a Kyoto-size tatami mat)Store boards are basically made overseas, but production is always slow, and we are famous for decks that are hard to produce even when we receive orders (laughs).
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Recently, [CHOCOLATE *23I know that you also collaborated with the "〉" and the "〉".
23 Launched in 1994 as a sister brand of 〈GIRL〉. Evan H icox, creator of the "CHUNK" logo, was appointed art director. The signature rider is Kenny Anderson, a Japanese-American skater with a reputation for technical tricks.
They call it a classroom or a cram school, but they don't teach technical matters. (Hagiwara)
plainYou do a lot of things. How about "FABRIC"?
small islandI was thinking about it a lot, but the one that sold out more than the brand itself was Akira Ishizawa's signature model released by 5BORO. *24It's a very good one. All the local Yokohama skaters who knew Ethan bought these.
24 Yokohama local professional skater who passed away in September 2017 at the age of 47. He was loved and supported by many skaters under the nickname of "Ethan," and 5BORO has released a signature deck in his memory.
plainYou are a local hero. I guess it was a big influence. What about "prime skateborad"?
financial well beingWe are also a store board with "INSTANT". Also, Mikey Taylor's "SOVRN" has been very active recently. *25〉. The designs are extremely stylish and sophisticated. It's popular among young people, too.
25 A skate company started in LA by Mikey Taylor, a former signature rider of "alien workshop. It is popular for its inorganic and clean worldview that sets it apart from others.
small islandThis is the first time I have heard of "SOVRN. I didn't know such a brand existed.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Why don't you put it at Kojima-san's place too?
small islandWe can't sell them at our shop! We're like a plastic model store.
plainYou mean an old-fashioned skate store? (laughs). (Laughs.) It's nice, you have to have that kind of style of store. By the way, what do you think is the role of a skate store? Do you teach customers who want to start skating or young skaters about the appeal and fun of skating?
reedy fieldOf course we do. We regularly hold skateboarding classes for elementary school students and small children in front of the Nakano Ward Office, and we also hold "Heavy Sick ZERO" on the first Thursday of every month. *26We also set up a small skate ramp in a club called "Skate Ramp" and hold events for skaters that resemble a skateboarding cram school. However, although we call it a class or cram school, we do not teach technical skills. I always treat skaters with the hope that they will become skaters with style.
26 A music lounge that has led the club scene in the Nakano area since its birth in 2002. It has hosted various legendary live performances, and currently hosts a regular monthly skate event called "Midnight Express" by "FAT BROS," which has been closely associated with the lounge since its opening.
plainSo skate stores are also places that nurture local skaters. I realized that it also plays such a role. It seems like you have a lot of children at your shop.
small islandI have a few, but they say, "Uncle, do you have any ELEMENT decks?" I tell them, "Then you should go to the store over there, they sell them.
plain(Laughter).
small islandI was only half joking when I said that. Even though they are children, I can somehow tell from the atmosphere and mood they have the moment they enter the store. I can tell that this child is going to make our store local, or that he/she is going to be a good skater. I tend to look at them from that perspective, so if I meet a kid I want to train, I educate him or her thoroughly.
plainThat is very typical of Kojima-san. How about Homma-san's place?
official size of a tatami mat for measuring room size (esp. a Kyoto-size tatami mat)For example, the Odaiba store of "INSTANT" has many families. I try to provide appropriate advice and items so that the grandchildren can skate safely and happily. On the other hand, at the Kichijoji store, we get kids who understand their own tastes and styles to some extent. So, rather than giving advice, I try to provide them with information that will appeal to their appetites, and I always try to keep a stock of new products.
plainIt is interesting that the customer base changes in the form of parents' generation in Odaiba and children in Kichijoji. Kanda doesn't seem to have any children, does it?
financial well beingThere are no children, but the middle-aged crowd is great. At lunchtime, all the visitors are wearing suits. Anyway, there are a lot of businessmen.
plainIt is truly a four-way store.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)If the owner has his own correct answer, it will naturally become the color of the store, right?
plainI was going to ask a question from the audience at the end of the event, but since it is sometimes difficult to say what I want to say, I would like to ask a question that I have prepared for this occasion only. Well, the topic is related to the theme of this event, which is the addition of skateboarding to the Olympic Games. What kind of efforts will each store make for the Olympics in response to this? Or, what kind of future plans do you have as a store?
official size of a tatami mat for measuring room size (esp. a Kyoto-size tatami mat)I am also an MC for the Japan Skateboarding Association's contests, so of course I hear a lot about the Olympics, but I don't think about the pros and cons, good or bad, at all. To be honest, I skate and store every day thinking about tomorrow, so I don't think my attitude will change. The important thing is that we old guys are getting older and older, but the age of core skaters never changes. Skate culture will always belong to the youth. Maybe the range of skaters is getting wider, though. I would like to think about what we can do and what we should do, while keeping an eye on the skaters we need to support the most and the ever-changing skateboarding environment.
reedy fieldI am a person who likes to keep things local, so I have a dream of building a park in Nakano, and I would like to make that dream come true someday. There are pros and cons to the Olympics, but in my case, I want to use the Olympics in a positive way, or rather, I want to make the skate scene in Nakano more exciting along with the Olympics.
small islandAs a fan, I would like to go to the Olympics. I want to witness what kind of spectacle it is. Also, because of the Olympics, parks are being built in various places at the same time, and I think that's good for all skaters. However, it would be hard to skate if all the parks were full of skaters due to the excitement of the Olympics (laughs).
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Is it okay if I don't tell you about my ambitions for FABRIC?
small islandWell, we have given up on the Internet, so while we are working hard, we would like to create a park someday. From there, I'd like to create a dojo, an association, and so on. I think we can connect it to various skateboarding-related activities.
plainA dojo, an association? It's a good new idea. How about you, Kanai-san?
financial well beingI am not really aware of the Olympics since I am not involved in it, but as the population of skaters and skate culture are exposed in various media, I would like to convey the aspects of skateboarding, or the culture and appeal of other aspects of skateboarding.
plainAs a skater, I envy that I can work surrounded by so many skateboards! Skate stores make you envy to be able to work surrounded by so many skateboards. It can be exciting or a little scary, but when you take a few steps and look around the stores, you realize that they are all full of individuality and each has its own charm. I want skate stores to continue to be places where boys can experience the excitement and thrill of skating, just as I did in the past. This event made me feel that way again. Thank you very much.
kozawa (Clausena lansium)Each skate store has its own color, nice. And the next one will be on Thursday, September 13th at 8pm. The place will be the same VACANT's 1F space. See you all again~.
The "prime skateborad" booth. Hanging on the wall is a new T-shirt from the popular "Clumsy," which is also a store original.
The FABRIC booth. The decks lined up in a row were hand-shaped by the owner, Mr. Kojima. The blue deck on the far right is the Akira Ishizawa model by "5BORO," which was the best-selling deck at FABRIC in the past.
Shown on the right is the INSTANT booth. Not only decks and apparel, but also trucks, wheels, screws, and other gear. As one would expect from such a large lineup.
Mr. Oba of Wooden Toy, who was attending the event as an auditing student, also offered a custom deck service. He even taped and assembled the decks himself, which was the ultimate in luxury. This kind of coincidence is only possible at skate events!
The original goods of HOUYHNHNM SKATEBOARD CLUB are also on sale at the event, with an eye-catching lineup of bootleg designs supervised by VACANT. If you are interested, please ask a staff member near you at the event.
GOOSE ISLAND, a representative Chicago craft beer well-known among skaters in its home country, was served as a free beer to accompany the skater event! Three different flavors of GOOSE ISLAND were set out, and visitors were smiling from start to finish at the craft beer, which they don't usually see!
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, who will hold monthly roundtable discussion-style events with different themes and guests each time, and with the participation of general participants (auditing students). Also, workshops will be held on an irregular basis where event participants and visitors can actually experience the event. Stay tuned. Below are the details of the second event.
HSC VOL.2 "Skateboarding and Skate Teams
Date: Thursday, September 13, 2018
Time: 20:00 - 21:30
Lecture Events
Place: VACANT 1F (3-20-13 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
Guests: YOPPI (T-19, Hombre Niño), Toru Yoshida (NEW TYPE), Katsumi Minami (Evisen)
