TimeScan: A Glimpse into Japan's Vibrant Skate Scene with Rob Taro

The “homie video,” a concept that can often fall flat, relies heavily on recognizable names, novel ideas, or pure, unadulterated fun. When those elements aren’t quite right, the skating and filming must carry the weight. TimeScan, however, is a rare example of a homie video that is thoroughly enjoyable. Much like a well-curated compilation, each skater gets just enough time to shine before the scene shifts, keeping things fresh and exciting. This video also spotlights the talents of young skater Kotora Mitani, who blends big California-style tricks with classic Japanese combos.

We sat down with the video’s creator, Rob Taro, to learn more about the making of TimeScan and the stories behind some of its most memorable clips, including the mysterious skater in a suit. If you don’t enjoy this video, we’ll refund you the full price of admission ($0.00).

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The video feels like a celebration of friends skating together, rather than a showcase of individual talents. Would you agree that this is a “homie video”?

Absolutely, TimeScan is a homie video through and through. It’s a record of my experiences in incredible places with amazing people. Many of the skaters featured haven’t been on film before, and I wanted to share their talent with the world. The biggest challenge was that many of the skaters with full parts lived far from me. Leo Takayama and Shinya Masuda, for example, lived in Osaka, while I was in Tokyo. I often had to take night buses or hitchhike just to get footage.

“Most of these skaters have never even been on film before.”

What’s the significance of the title, TimeScan?

TimeScan is more than just my first full-length skate video; it’s a deeply personal project. About four years ago, I came to Japan as a transfer student, hoping to study photography and art history. However, school didn’t work out, and I dropped out quickly. I was alone, didn’t speak much Japanese, and was facing eviction from my dorm.

Miyashita, the local skatepark at the time, led me to some locals who invited me to skate at AXIS park in Ibaraki. This park, a concrete haven in the countryside, is about an hour and a half from Tokyo. There, I met Kenji Tanaka, a pivotal figure in Japanese skateboarding. I didn’t know who he was at first, but he was impressed by my skating and invited us to his house for sake.

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What was your experience at Kenji’s “real skate house” like?

It was my first experience in a “real skate house.” It was filled with stickers, skate mags, broken doors, moldy bedsheets, giant cockroaches, and Slayer playing on loop. After telling Kenji about my situation, he immediately offered me a place to stay. I moved in right away.

Every day was a mix of caring for the chickens, farming, skating at AXIS, and partying. However, I was also worried about my future. With no job, and spending my days skating, I realized it was time to make some changes.

I moved to Osaka and worked in a factory to save money to return home and start school again. Then, my video was featured on Thrasher, and I got a job offer from VHSMAG. It was a dream opportunity, but I didn’t have the funds to move back to Tokyo. Thankfully, they let me live in the office until I saved enough money, which meant living under a desk and bathing in their kitchen for a year.

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Who is the suited skater at the beginning? Does he always skate in a suit?

That’s Nobu, a local from Triangle park and part of the Osaka Daggers crew. He’s a true skateboard maniac. He’s known for wearing the best outfits and riding the most unique setups. He’s a friend, and I’ve never met anyone like him. While there are many “good” skateboarders, there is only one Nobu. I can’t fully understand him, and I don’t think anyone ever will.

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How old is Kotora Mitani, the young skater at the beginning, and how did he become so skilled?

Kotora is 12 years old. There are so many incredibly talented young skaters in Japan right now. It’s hard to explain just how good they are; you have to see it to believe it. Kotora stands out because of his unique perspective on skateboarding at such a young age. I believe he started at a skate school but was inspired by the Tightbooth crew, with whom he became friends. It’s likely they played a role in shaping his skating style. Watching him skate in person is even more impressive.

“Believe it or not, there are a lot of up and coming ‘Yutos’ in Japan. Some who might be even better than him.”

Is Kotora on track to become the next Yuto Horigome?

It’s difficult to predict. There are many up-and-coming skaters in Japan who are on par with Yuto, perhaps even better. The issue is that many of these kids look and skate similarly. What makes Kotora different is how he interprets the streets. I believe Tightbooth has big plans for him and will guide him in the right direction.

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Near the end, you and your crew clean up and skate a natural halfpipe. How did you discover this spot, and what was it like to skate there?

Sota Tomikawa, who is 16, and his crew, Isme and Junpei Shibata from Hokkaido, are known for fixing spots and creating DIY parks in abandoned places. They constructed this DIY park within an abandoned zoo. It felt like stepping into Jurassic Park.

Roller skating was once incredibly popular, resulting in abandoned giant halfpipes in hidden areas of Japan. The oververt ramp, for example, was originally a roller-skating ramp. Apparently, a wealthy person had it built and then abandoned it in the mountains of Nagano. This spot, Mikasa, is patrolled by security starting at 8 AM, so we have to skate it before they arrive. We drove for hours to get there, swept the area at 5 AM, and Sota landed a frontside blunt around 6:30 AM.

Before we became friends, Sota’s mom would drive him to spots like Mikasa, Annaka, and other legendary locations across Japan, filming his incredible skating on her iPhone. They even made multiple trips to Mikasa before, and I’m pretty sure his mom filmed him doing this front blunt on her iPhone a while back too. You can actually see her sweeping the ramp in the super 8 footage in the video.

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What do you believe are the most significant trends or influences in Japanese skateboarding today?

I’ve noticed a strong influence from New York and East Coast skating in Tokyo and Osaka. Some of these skaters know more about New Jersey and New York than I do, and I grew up in New Jersey!

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With the Olympics happening in Tokyo, do you plan to protest it?

No, I’m indifferent to the Olympics. However, I’m against large corporations that use skateboarding for profit without giving back to the community.

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What impact do you think the Olympics might have on the skate scene in Tokyo and Japan?

The Olympics are great for exposing skateboarding to a wider audience. However, increased exposure can bring in people with the wrong motivations. For example, some people may start skating to be trendy because they see it in fashion. Others influenced by the Olympics might be more focused on winning a medal or earning money.

I’ve seen parents push their children to do risky tricks to be number one. I remember seeing a boy attempting a heelflip front board down a handrail for hours. His parents wouldn’t let him leave until he landed it. After he succeeded, everyone cheered except his dad, who told him he had to land it two more times. The boy was in tears. It’s hard to witness that.

While the increased exposure is great and leads to more people skating, what is skateboarding without its culture?