May 2019th (Wednesday) to 5th (Monday), 15, Ginza Mitsukoshi 20th floor, event venue."Japan Leather Pride Ginza" was held in which leather creators who were fascinated by Japanese leather challenged "new charm of leather" and "further possibilities of leather" with influencers.
Aki Akiyama, a handmade skateboard shaper who is a legend in the skateboarding world, used leather carefully selected in the work of leather creator and designer Takako Kato who will be exhibiting at this exhibition. In collaboration with the board, Kohei Kudo, who is active as a professional snowboarder on the skateboard, has applied art to the work.We asked Kohei Kudo to tell the story and feelings until this work was announced.
-How did Kouhei decide to participate in this work?
"Why don't you participate in an exhibition of making works using Japanese leather?" (Kato) Takako asked me at an event venue held in February of this year.I've known Takako since I was a kid, and I told her that I was interested in art. He remembered what I said before, "I want to do something interesting together someday," and I was able to participate in this work.
-How did you get to know Aki Akiyama?
Takako's husband has loved me since I was a kid.Mr. Kato and Mr. Aki have been friends for a long time and introduced me to Mr. Aki at the exhibition.I knew that Aki was "a leading figure in Japanese skate culture and the person who introduced American horizontal culture to Japan," but I had no acquaintance with him.But the moment I met Aki-san, I was pushed by his power, or there was a lot of wavelength.
-Tell us your first contact with Aki-san?
Aki told me various stories. What happened when he first came to the United States at the age of 18, and how many times he participated in the world skating championships and was published in the local newspaper.He showed me the video more than 30 years ago.The content of the story was all interesting, and it was all about attracting me.Aki had many friends overseas, and she was openly talked to at the event venue.I was also told by a famous overseas skateboarder, "Sell me a skateboard shaped by Aki."I just met him and I was a fan in no time.At the time of parting, Aki gave me a shaped skateboard as a gift.I remember this day was amazing and exciting.
-Kouhei was in charge of art for this work, but what kind of concept did you want to express?
The two faces drawn in the center represent me and Aki-san.When I asked Aki how old she was, she was 60 years old this year.I enjoy skating in America and know Yokonori even before I was born.I'm glad if there are people who are older than my father and whose lifestyle is so picturesque.Also, even if there is etiquette in horizontal and art, I think that there is a culture that can respect each other without them, regardless of age, position, or hierarchy.I sometimes draw this art as my own icon, and I tried to express it this time based on those feelings.
-In fact, what did you think of the three people's feelings as one skateboard?
Very fresh.In fact, I've never seen a piece of leather woven into a skateboard.The only person who can handle the Tochigi leather used this time seems to be a craftsman that Takako knows in Japan.Leather is hard and very difficult to handle, but Takako told me that I wanted to make it from this leather.He made it again with outstanding technology.The leather is perfectly cut to fit the skateboard and is very beautiful, isn't it?I'm just grateful that I was able to have a really good time with Aki-san's skateboard shape and interacting with Takako-san.
Leather creator / designer (left)
Takako Kato
Born in Sapporo and lives in Tokyo.Born and raised in a family that has a great-grandfather, a shoemaker founded in the Meiji era, and runs a shoe and handbag store that has continued for generations, and an Italian apparel brand store.Currently, in his own atelier, he designs new works and creates patterns himself, and has exhibited overseas since 2013.
Professional snowboarder / artist (right)
Kohei Kudo
Born in Hokkaido. Born February 1990, 2.Since he was a child, he has won many prizes in many contests with his outstanding technique. 9 Vancouver Winter Olympics Halfpipe Japan representative.Currently, in order to express the essence of snowboarding, he has released numerous works in his own movie project "K FILMS".While leading the Japanese snowboarding culture with his original riding style and lifestyle, he is also demonstrating his talent as an artist.
