A circle of friends connected by goo touch! The “FIST BUMP” corner of the radio program “GRAND MARQUEE” features people who live and enjoy Tokyo in a relay format.
On November 6, professional skateboarder Kenya Okuno will appear. We asked him about his encounter with skateboarding, the similarities with his other hobby, golf, and the concept of his apparel brand “adress”.
INDEX
Invited by a neighbor’s older brother-like figure, I met skateboarding
Celeina (MC): First of all, let me give you a brief profile of Mr. Okuno, who was born in Tokyo in 1989 and is a professional skateboarder representing Tokyo. He is not only a skater, but also a brand consultant, team manager, skatepark designer, and founder and manager of the apparel brand “adress”, utilizing his background as an MBA holder at Keio University Graduate School.
Takano (MC): You are active in a wide range of fields, but may I ask you about today’s fashion point?
Okuno: Today I am wearing a Supreme zip-up polo, with which I have a very close relationship.
Celeina: It’s Supreme, but it also has a collar, which gives it a classy look.
Takano: The gradient-like color is also very nice.
Celeina: The shoes are also a mix of gray and black, and match the top. This may sound like a biased opinion, but don’t skaters have cool fashion?
Takano: I totally understand.
Celeina: How about you, Okuno-san? The relationship between fashion and skateboarding is deep, isn’t it?
Okuno: Yes, it is. Skaters often express themselves on the streets, and since art and music cultures are intricately blended with easy-to-move clothes, I have the idea that it is easy for good things to be born in such a context.
Takano: It is an interesting blend of cultures.
Celeina：You are currently a professional skateboarder, but I would like to ask you about your first encounter with skateboarding.
Okuno: My first encounter with skateboarding was in the first grade of junior high school. I didn’t know anything about skateboards at all, but my neighbor’s older brother said to me, “Skateboards are cool, why don’t you try them? I went out to buy one.
Takano: From your neighbor’s brother.
Okuno: That’s right. I wondered if it was cool, but I was very confident in my athletic ability, so I thought I could do it, and when I got on it, I fell on my butt in front of everyone. From there, I showed my competitive spirit and have been doing it for more than 20 years now.
Takano: It is difficult and deep. How do you get good at jumping ollies?
Okuno: It takes about a month, but if you don’t give up and work hard and seriously, you can do it.
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.
INDEX
The concept of the brand is to respect the style you like
Celeina：You mentioned golf earlier, and I understand that you have also launched a golf apparel brand “adress”.
Okuno: A group of skaters got together and made clothes that they wanted to wear while golfing, so they can be worn while skateboarding and of course as casual wear, but they can also be worn while golfing as well.
Celeina：I like it. So you are imagining golf wear from the perspective of street fashion, rather than a crisp look, is that right?
Okuno: That’s right. It’s like chinos, mock necklines, etc.
Takano: I see. What is the concept behind your brand?
Okuno: The concept is something like “Style matters on the course, on the street”. Skaters place a lot of importance on the style of expressing themselves, so I wanted to express the idea that you should play in the style you like, whether on the golf course or on the street.
Celeina：This concept seems to apply to any situation in life, doesn’t it? What kind of places do you usually play golf, Mr. Okuno? Do you sometimes go golfing after skateboarding?
Okuno: I totally go. We skate at Komazawa Park, and after that we go to a driving range in Himonya or to a golf course along the banks of the Tama River.
Celeina: Is there a golf course on the banks of the Tama River?
Okuno: Yes, there are. I think there are two or three in the Futakotamagawa area. They are quite popular.
Takano: As you mentioned earlier, there are similarities between the two types of golf courses. Both are a way to hone one’s individual skills while at the same time having a lively atmosphere where everyone can talk together.
Celeina: It’s a sport that can be done while having fun. By the way, “FIST BUMP” is a circle of friends connected through touch, so we ask people to introduce their friends to us, but who can you introduce us to?
Okuno: I would like to strongly introduce Mr. Take, the owner of the golf select store “RUFFLOG” in Daikanyama, which is very hot right now.
Takano: In a word, what kind of person is he?
Okuno: Golf is becoming very popular right now, and he is like a driving force in the amateur golf scene.
Takano: This must be something that Celeina, who plays golf, would like to hear a lot about. Tomorrow, we will welcome Mr. Takebayashi, aka Mr. Take, owner of the golf select store “RUFFLOG” in Daikanyama.
Celeina: “FIST BUMP” today was professional skateboarder Kenya Okuno. Thank you very much.
GRAND MARQUEE
J-WAVE (81.3FM) Mon-Thu 16:00 – 18:50
Navigator: Shinya Takano, Celeina Ann
