Shinpei Ueno is a Japanese professional skateboarder renowned for his influential role in the community. His videos, skating and design work provide a genuine look into Japanese skate culture. Originally from Osaka, Ueno is the founder and director of Tightbooth, a brand recognized for its clothing and skate videos. Tightbooth’s “LENZ” series was instrumental in showcasing Japanese skateboarding talent to a global audience. The videos were filmed with a VX1000 and a Century Optics Ultra Fisheye MK1 to achieve what Ueno calls its unparalleled “visual groove”. “LENZ III” was released in 2023 after nine years in production. Beyond skateboarding, Ueno has worked alongside Nike, Gucci, Supreme, PIZZANISTA! TOKYO and Converse. 

Angel – Let’s start like this, coming up in Japan, what influences did you have that sparked your interest in things like skateboarding, video editing, design and art? 

Shinpei – Everything changed when I saw a skateboarding video on the streets. It featured skaters conquering the city with original styles, complemented by an amazing soundtrack. The gestures, lifestyle, and vibe of the skaters shown in the video—everything started from there for me

Angel – What were the earliest skate videos you remember watching that had an impact on you? 

Shinpei – It would have to be FESN’s East, West, South, North. It didn’t just focus on skateboarding itself but also had visual effects, abstract soundtracks, unique editing techniques, and subliminal imagery that seemed to ask profound questions. That approach still forms the foundation of who I am. I’ve carried on the Japanese skate video style created by Morita Takahiro from FESN. He will forever be my teacher.

Angel – Can we talk about the fact that Japan is notoriously difficult to skate? I’ve heard about having to skate spots late at night or early in the morning, people getting ridiculous fines for skating, a lot of CCTV and security. What has your experience with this been like?

Shinpei – I’ve skated in various countries, but Japan is truly crazy. It feels like most of the population hates skaters. As shown in the video part of LENZ III, Tokyo, in particular, is extremely strict about skating, with designated time slots for skating at spots. Often, this means going late at night or early in the morning.

One small mistake could result in hefty fines. Once, a 16-year-old kid lightly scratched a parking sign at an apartment entrance while grinding, and the apartment billed him 2 million yen.

The apartment had security cameras everywhere, so he was guaranteed to get caught.

We paid the fine by urgently selling Tightbooth and Evisen apparel samples at a flea market I hosted and collecting donations from locals. Crazy country.

Angel – Often the public speaks about skaters like they are an issue within society. Why do you believe the Japanese public has this view on skateboarding? I think that is something that was a bit common in the United States, but has faded little by little as skateboarding becomes more mainstream. 

Shinpei – Japan has always been a country where rules and manners are taken extremely seriously. Even when skating in a place that causes no disturbance, passersby’s will call the police. Why? Because they just feel like skateboarding is illegal.

People here report anything slightly out of line to the police. We’re just skating, yet they call us out. In Japanese parks, even using balls is prohibited. It’s incomprehensible. 

Angel – Why did you start Tightbooth? What was the initial idea and where is it at today? 

Shinpei – It started like a common story—skate kids creating a crew and naming it. From there, we made videos, printed T-shirts, and toured around the country, gradually growing bigger. Now we have more staff, but the friends who started it with me are still working alongside me. I started Tightbooth to stay with my friends forever. 

Angel – How did Tightbooth grow from its early beginnings to being able to work with brands like Nike?

Shinpei – We just kept consistently running it as a skateboarding brand.

Angel – How have things changed since you first started the brand? 

Shinpei Ueno – I don’t have to sneak onto trains or shoplift food from convenience stores anymore. 

Angel – The media side of the brand has helped shape the narrative of street skating in Japan, spotlighting Tokyo’s unique architectural landscape. What do you hope people take away from the work you do?

Shinpei – I hope people can enjoy skate videos as a form of comprehensive art.

Angel – The phrase, “People Hate Skateboarding” appears on a few Tightbooth products, what’s up with this?

Shinpei – It means skaters have always been outcasts. As Robby Ganji once said, “We’re ultra-underground.”

Angel – Your style of videos have great attention to detail. The soundtrack, the stylistic delivery and the video editing is all done with great care. Can you tell me a bit about your video editing style and process? 

Shinpei – In my skate video production, I always aim for a 50/50 balance between visuals and the soundtrack so neither overshadows the other.

I use a term called “visual groove,” which refers to the rhythm and flow of visuals. I strive to create footage that’s engaging and doesn’t feel drawn-out.

As I said earlier, I view skate videos as comprehensive art—skateboarding, music, and visual effects all woven together.

Angel – Why did you choose the VX1000 and MK1 to film the LENZ videos with? 

Shinpei – The distortion achieved by the VX1000 with the Century Optics Ultra Fisheye MK1 setup is considered the best in the industry for its unparalleled “visual groove.”

Angel – How do you feel the Tokyo Olympics relates to the reality of street skateboarding within Japanese skate culture? 

Shinpei – The Tokyo Olympics have slightly increased the awareness of skateboarding in Japan. However, many people who watched the Olympics now view skateboarding solely as a sport, which I feel is a significant drawback. This perception negatively impacts street skating, which is the essence of skateboarding. For example, some people think, “Street skaters like them are causing trouble for the serious skaters aiming for the Olympics.”

Once, while filming street skating, someone told me this directly. When I said I was a pro skater, they replied, “There’s no way someone like you is a pro skater.” This is one of my favorite stories.

Full interview, featured in Issue 9, Living Proof Magazine.

Photos by Changsu. Interview by Angel Cheng