Hiroshi Fujiwara on​ ​SNS​ ​"My hero",​ ​praising​ ​2013's skateboard video 'LENZ Ⅱ'​ ​while Ueno has also been gathering support not only as a Pro Skater but also as a skate filmmaker. I searched for what drives someone almost 34 years of age to keep on spreading their efforts further afield with skateboard the trajectory and the key.

Photo & Text, TRYOUT

All photography and editing is self-taught.
They're not outsourced and left for someone else to do.

Ueno has for​ ​​ ​20​ ​shared a life with skateboards from around the time of elementary school, continuing that excitement for years to come. “There happened to be a deck in the warehouse I was living in at that time, and began to play with it. Watching Jackie Chan’s films, I had been longing for one as a child. But my friends around me were crazy about playing​ ​TV​ ​games and other things. I did not have any friends to do it with and gradually moved away from skateboarding." Such a reunion took place with the skateboard boom sensation of​ ​​ ​1998. He was​ ​15​ ​or thereabouts. It’s the reason he has been living a life in the same way of a skateboarder ever since, but encountering others “with the same trust, who love skateboarding with the same intensity" has motivated him even further.

"It is by no means fate, that​ ​​,5​ ​kids began a bit of a cliche as if often the case, getting together in the local park to make videos as the skateboard team​ ​Tightbooth. Because I do not have a smartphone like now, I got some money and bought a video camera and was desperately trying to catch up with those more experienced who I look up to. After shooting, I gathered at a friend’s house, to improve not only skating but also video skills, such as where to shoot from and how to light.”​ ​As skate team​ ​Tightbooth​ ​9​ ​years is how long it lasted, but with the idea to “want to create work by hiring skaters from all over the country and around the world” followed this to date by setting up skateboard production company​ ​TIGHT BOOTH PRODUCTION. The decision became a turning point, and above all drew attention from skaters all over the world as a result. Even if it began receiving a lot of offers from every quarter, what is the reason for still using Osaka as a base?

"There is not a single thing that was inconvenient when it comes to improving skateboard skills and bringing on sponsors, expressing our style by shooting our own videos. All photography and editing is self-taught. It’s not outsourced and left for someone else to do. because I was such an environment I was good at expressing it, and at that time, Hokkaido​ ​hiphop​ ​artists​ ​THA BLUE HERB, I think witnessing them emerge to take on the competition nationwide and push their way up was a big factor. There was also the desire to be able to give courage to local skaters through what we do."

There is more than skill involved
That is what sets it apart from other sports

Crammed with a respect for local skaters and that sort of philosophy,​ ​2009​ ​saw the release of 'LENZ'. And​ ​​ ​​​ ​was the time it took to make 'LENZ II', made not only in Japan, but also the US and France, co-starring a total of​ ​​ ​180​ ​​ ​skaters, and received praise from skaters worldwide. And it is said there was even a shoutout from Hiroshi Fujiwara. “I heard he said on​ ​SNS​ ​that​ ​'LENZ II'​ ​was fun, so sent a​ ​DM​ ​to say thanks. To be honest, I was happy that a top creator, active at the forefront of what they do for so time know’s what someone unknown like me is up to. It was such a great honor and made me think I need to work even harder.

Not only that, the​ ​​​ ​Tokyo Olympic Games deciding to include skating as an official event, and the plan to develop the first Combi pool in Japan at the Kakinuma Seaside Skatepark in Kanagawa prefecture, means the environment surrounding skaters has reached a major turning point. It seemed a positive outlook, but he had his doubts. “Speaking as a street skater, on the contrary, things are getting worse. I mean, as good as it is that the number of skaters is increasing, the Olympic Games are a step too far. It feels like the street and skateboarding are being lumped together as a competition. When I shot videos around town, pro-skaters practice in decent facilities and not places like this without skateboarding. I was told you lot are frustrating those who are seriously doing their best. As a pro-skater myself, I was seriously shooting skating, but (laugh)." However, without overlooking such a situation,​ ​“the street as something entangled by chance and necessity​​ ​is the pure feeling it expresses. “Those who took over the park will improve, but in the case of the street just finding the right spot makes a trick the only one in the world. No matter how skillful a skater is in the world, they’ll never reach the spot I found, and conversely, I can not do a trick as well as the kid that found it on the other side of the earth. Of course, skill is important as well, but that is not the only reason why the appeal contrasts with other sports. That is why security guards in a building do not come around briefly at midnight, because the yellow wall spot match their blue shirts, and think skaters like it there." I suppose it is why the passion motivating him is why he keeps shooting an infinite number of tricks at spots all over the world.

Without dedicating all that energy in one thing, not only as a Pro Skater and filmmaker but also as an apparel designer, where on earth does the source to create in different ways come from? When I asked him this, he gave his best smile of the day. "When I'm skating with my friends, it's the most fun when I'm skating with my friends and it's great when I was able to take good pictures or when I was able to make the latest tricks.When a party was at night, I was able to do a good skating Because the taste of sake will change accordingly (laugh) Because there are skateboards in the center of life, I am doing a lot of things, I want to make things from now on and how big the scale is I do not want to forget the exciting feeling when I decided the trick for the first time." In​ ​​​ ​the latest work 'EVISEN VIDEO'​ ​will be released with screenings held in five countries, not only in Japan but also in New York, London and throughout Asia. Currently the long-awaited 'LENZ Ⅲ' is under construction. His story of vividly transforming the scene will be spun for a long time to come.

Shinpei Ueno
Born in Osaka Prefecture. As well as overseeing skateboard production company​ ​TIGHT BOOTH PRODUCTION, he also skates for​ ​Evisen Skateboards​ ​as a Pro Skater. In​ ​2015, the skateboard shop​ ​SHRED​ ​was opened in his home town Osaka. In August, produced the collaborative streetwear for artist Killer Bong. Music clips are also being released.

TIGHTBOOTH PRODUCTION Official Site