INDEX
The similarity between skateboarding and golf is that you aim for your ideal shape.
Takano: The only way is to practice a lot. You are such a good person, Mr. Okuno, but you also obtained an MBA from Keio University Graduate School. How did this come about?
Okuno: When I was a university student, I studied commerce, and one of the things I really liked was business administration. Another reason is that while I was active as a skateboarder, I developed a deep relationship with apparel and shoe brands that sponsored me. I worked with them on products, so I was very close to them in terms of marketing and branding. Also, my family has a family business, so I was able to study management because I thought that if I studied management, something would be connected in no small way.
Takano: This is not so far from the story of musicians like us.
Celeina: It is true that self-branding is important. When you were studying for your MBA, did you do a lot of studying?
Okuno: When I was studying, I focused on that and didn’t skedaddle. I almost didn’t skateboard for the university entrance exam or the two years I was in graduate school, and I think I might be the type of person who needs to switch things up.
Celeina：Mr. Okuno, you are also known as an intelligence skater in the skateboarding world, but I heard that you have other hobbies as well. I see golf written on your hat, is it this one?
Okuno: Actually, I have been playing golf longer than skateboarding. My father was a golf enthusiast, so he used to take me along with him to play. Recently, many of my friends have started playing golf at my age, so I feel like I’m getting even more passionate about it.
Takano: Do you have anything in common with skateboarding?
Okuno: There is also the fact that it is a great way to get together with friends. On a deeper level, skaters often take videos of their own skating to check how it looks, and study how they can make it look cooler if they lower their front foot more. The process of bringing one’s body closer to one’s ideal shape is very similar. I am surrounded by skaters and golfers, and I think they are very good at this process.
Takano: I think the process of each person mastering their own individual skills, but also getting together and talking together is similar, if you ask me.
Celeina：Now, I would like to send one song here. I asked Mr. Okuno to choose a song that he would like everyone to listen to together on the radio at this time.
Okuno: There is a shoe brand called GRAVIS SKATEBOARDING, which I am currently directing and sponsoring a rider, and I was recently asked to be in a full-length skate video. I have 3 skating parts in the video, and this is the song I used for it.
Celeina：Well then, please introduce the song.
Okuno: It’s “ON MY SKIN” by THE KVB.
