Most people associate Japanese skateboarding with contest stars like Yuto Horigome. However, there’s a thriving street skate scene in Japan, and Rob Taro’s Timescan crew is a prime example of this. They capture the essence of Japanese street skating, navigating through crowded cities with style and skill.
In 2019, Rob Taro released the crew’s self-titled full-length video, Timescan. Now, they’re back with a new video to tide us over while they work on their next big project. The video features familiar faces like the Hongo brothers, Shintaro and Masaki, who previously gave us a tour of their skate house. This new video further highlights the dynamic skate scene in Japan, showing that it’s much more than just contest-focused.
Interview with Rob Taro
Q: Are there any new trends in Japan since we last talked in 2019?
A: YouTubers [laughs]. It seems everyone is trying to make content now.
Q: Have you noticed any changes in the Japanese skate scene since the Olympics?
A: The Olympics definitely made skateboarding more visible to the Japanese public. Initially, there was a lot of support. However, now some pedestrians view skaters negatively, associating them with drugs and crime. This has led to skaters being kicked out of many places, even just for pushing on the street. There are rumors that street skating will face even more restrictions soon. Despite this, core skaters in Japan were very excited about their country winning medals and they respect medalists like Yuto Horigome.
Q: What cities is this video filmed in?
A: This video includes footage from a wide range of cities: Tokyo, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Yokosuka, Ibaraki, Nagano, Niigata, Osaka, Kobe, Sapporo, and Naha.
Q: What cameras are you filming with these days?
A: I use two cameras. For long shots, I use a Panasonic HPX175 which is lighter than my previous HVX200. For fisheye shots, I use a Nikon D600 with a 15mm Sigma lens.
Q: You recently had an interview in a Japanese magazine, Kawa. How does it feel to be recognized by the scene there?
A: It’s a huge honor for me. Being half-Japanese and growing up in the States, it means a lot to be featured in Kawa, a magazine run by photographers Shinsaku Arakawa, Noriyuki Sekikawa, and filmer Hitoshi Nagaoka, alongside some of the top skaters in Japan. Kawa really captures the energy of the current Japanese skate scene, and it’s truly a work of art.
Q: Do you have any good stories from the time period you guys were filming this?
A: While driving with Shinsaku and the Kawa crew, I was looking out the back window when I heard a loud bang. Turns out, a stone launched by an elderly woman mowing her lawn had shattered the car’s back window. I narrowly avoided being hit!
Q: How is filming with the Hongo brothers?
A: It’s always great hanging out with them. They’re incredibly talented, and they have very warm personalities. They know exactly what spots they want to skate and usually nail their tricks quickly. Watching them skate in the park can be a bit frustrating since they’re always doing mind-blowing lines, but you just can’t hate on them. Like any siblings, they argue sometimes, which can be quite funny to watch. Shintaro, the older brother, seems to be guiding Masaki, and I’m excited to see where they’ll both go in the future.
Q: What’s one thing you’d like Western skaters to know about Japan that they might not know or have misconceptions about?
A: Street skating is incredibly difficult in Japan, particularly in Tokyo. That’s why a lot of Japanese skate videos are filmed at night, due to constant kick-outs. However, when you leave Tokyo, there’s a lot of positivity and warmth from the local scene and people in general, which is why I love going on tours.
Q: Last time we talked, you mentioned that New York and East Coast videos have a big influence on skating in Japan – is that still the case?
A: Yes, definitely, and not just New York. Skaters in Japan often prefer foreign brands, not because they don’t want to support Japanese brands, but because Japan is a non-English speaking country. They’re very supportive of local Japanese skate shops. New York and European brands are very popular in Tokyo. You might be surprised how much Japanese skaters know about the skate scenes on the East Coast and in Europe – they might know more than you do!
Q: You included some 8mm footage in this video, what was the vision behind that?
A: I used to shoot a lot of film photography. Film has this nostalgic feeling. Timescan is more than just skating to me; it’s a way to track where I’ve been and the people I’ve met. The anticipation of waiting for film to be developed is exciting. Super 8 and film help express my memories on the road.
Q: When you’re not filming and skating, what are you up to on a regular day?
A: Honestly, those are the only two things I’ve been doing lately. I quit drinking when COVID hit Japan, and now I’m putting all my energy into skateboarding. When you’re filming and skating, there isn’t much time for anything else.
Q: So what’s next for you and the Timescan crew?
A: The release of the first Timescan video had a great response globally, so I decided to keep the project going with the same name. Since then, I’ve released some short clips and a documentary series. I’m now working hard on my next big project, Timescan 2, which will feature new skate spots and faces alongside the original crew. I’m constantly meeting new skaters and learning more about the Japanese scene as I travel. My dream is to premiere Timescan 2 in Japan and the United States, just like the first one.
Video & photos by: Rob Taro
Q&A by: Larry Lanza
