Skateboarding Japan caught up with Japanese pro skateboarder, Yuto Kojima at the Go skate Day in Shin-Yokohama. Check out the video here: http://youtu.be/IVmFSjcJXlo
The first pro skater I watched was Shin Okada. That was the first one ever….and yeah, I got into skateboarding and I just kept going!
SJ: what are you doing out here for Go Skate Day?
YK: Well, just tryin’ to have fun with the homies and all the skaters…..we just wanna give the kids a place to have fun. We’re gonna give out some skate product because most (products) are more pricey here than in the states. So, I got a bunch of soft drinks, beer, product, and pizza for everyone….and yeah….tryin’ to let everyone skate all day and just have fun!
SJ: who were some of your influences when you were growing up?
YK: The first pro skater I watched was Shin Okada. That was the first one ever….and yeah, I got into skateboarding and I just kept going! I’m from a small ass town so I had to go to The main city, Nagoya and I was like “I wanna see more!” So I started coming out to this area in Yokohama and Tokyo…I was wanted to see more of the skateboarding industry.
SJ: what was one of your first tricks you landed that really got you stoked on skateboarding?
YK: kick flip. I got it and then I lost it and then I didn’t do it for like ten years! I could do a switch flip, but I couldn’t do a regular one for over ten years!
SJ: who are some of the young, up-and-coming Japanese skaters that we should look out for?
YK: Ryota Abe. Yeah, this kid’s sick! He’s got pop…I think it was two years ago, he won the “Make It Count” high ollie bar contest
http://elementskateboards.com/app/webroot/makeitcount/
SJ: Can you tell us a little bit about Diamond Life
YK: Diamond Life are all the homies….Grizzly Gang!
https://www.diamondsupplyco.com
SJ: where can we find you skating?
YK: Anywhere in Japan!
SJ: do you have a twitter handle so we can follow you?
YK: Insta….
http://instagram.com/yutokojima
and twitter
Skateboarding Japan 