01Profile
A Kaito Sasamoto Photo
Kaito Sasamoto
Retail / Skater — Tokyo
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Kaito Sasamoto A.K.A. Kozakana. Hachijojima Island (a one-hour flight south of Tokyo).
What do you do?
FTC Shop Staff / Skater.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Grime is a big thing out of the UK, and I often have Skepta and A$AP Rocky on when I’m skating. The BPM on grime tracks is quicker than hip-hop or trap, so I get a lot of energy from it. It doesn’t matter if I don’t know what they are saying. Also, Loyle Carner’s track 'Ottolenghi'. I haven’t been to a gig in person, but the music video left a big impression on me.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
That has to be skateboarding. Julian Kimura is a skater making waves in the UK. He appeared in a Yardsale (skateboard brand) promo video and has a completely different style to the American skaters—perhaps because of his roots in Brazil and Japan. If I try and put a label on it, his style is closer to Japanese skating. It’s technical with lots of intricate tricks. I have a similar style myself, and I’m a fan of that type of skating, so I’ve seen that video a lot. Videos are a good way to learn new things, so I’m a regular on the UK’s Free Skateboard Magazine website.
Of all the venues you’ve visited, which is your favourite?
I have to say Sound Museum Vision in Shibuya. That place has lots of floors and space, so it’s an easy place to dance. I prefer hip hop over four-to-the-floor, so I try to get to those events when they are on.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
I’d have The Beatles come to the present-day, and we’d make a music video for 'Let It Be' on Hachijojima Island. I’d appear on the video as a skater. It would be so cool if they’d let me direct it. Imagine creating that video!
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d like to go for a drive with '60s/'70s-era John Lennon. I’d be behind the wheel, so John could have a drink if he wanted. I’d love to sit there and listen as he tells me all kinds of stories about his life and the places he has been. I don’t think an hour would be enough for that.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Well, nobody I know really listens to UK music, so I guess the music itself is unsung! I have a DJ friend who plays grime, and I think it’d be great if the music and artists she plays became more well-known. Artists like Stormzy, Octavian, Slowthai, for example.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Listening to grime was the first time I was aware of UK music. However, I listened to The Beatles and Queen before that without making a UK connection. That would be my parent’s influence. I think the song I consciously pressed the repeat button on is 'Shutdown' by Skepta’s track.
A song that defines the teenage you?
That absolutely has to be Queen. I was listening to them when I was around eighteen or nineteen. I had finished secondary school and started working at FTC—the shop I still work at today. It’s hard for me to choose a track, but let’s go with 'Don’t Stop Me Now'. That was a time when I was hell-bent on going wild.
One record you would keep forever?
'Abbey Road' by The Beatles. The cover image has become so iconic and influential. It’s an album that many people still listen to today, which makes me think it will attract ears way into the future.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
I like a track called 'Angle' by Japanese rapper ISSUGI. He raps with the Monju and Sick Team crews.
Best song to turn up loud?
I don’t really sing—I can’t hold a tune to save my life. But I hum along to 'Don’t Look Back In Anger' by Oasis when I play it at the shop I work in.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I’m going to say Mall Grab and any one of the four tracks on his EP 'Elegy'. He's an Australian techno artist. Alternatively, the female DJ Peggy Gou. She’s originally from Korea but based in Berlin. I listen to her when I’m skateboarding.
Any new bands you are listening to now?
Cocteau Twins (lol). I first heard their track 'Persephone' on a skateboarding video. I’ve had them on an endless loop ever since. I discover a lot of music through watching videos.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Kaito Sasamoto A.K.A. Kozakana. Hachijojima Island (a one-hour flight south of Tokyo).
What do you do?
FTC Shop Staff / Skater.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Grime is a big thing out of the UK, and I often have Skepta and A$AP Rocky on when I’m skating. The BPM on grime tracks is quicker than hip-hop or trap, so I get a lot of energy from it. It doesn’t matter if I don’t know what they are saying. Also, Loyle Carner’s track 'Ottolenghi'. I haven’t been to a gig in person, but the music video left a big impression on me.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
That has to be skateboarding. Julian Kimura is a skater making waves in the UK. He appeared in a Yardsale (skateboard brand) promo video and has a completely different style to the American skaters—perhaps because of his roots in Brazil and Japan. If I try and put a label on it, his style is closer to Japanese skating. It’s technical with lots of intricate tricks. I have a similar style myself, and I’m a fan of that type of skating, so I’ve seen that video a lot. Videos are a good way to learn new things, so I’m a regular on the UK’s Free Skateboard Magazine website.
Of all the venues you’ve visited, which is your favourite?
I have to say Sound Museum Vision in Shibuya. That place has lots of floors and space, so it’s an easy place to dance. I prefer hip hop over four-to-the-floor, so I try to get to those events when they are on.
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
I’d have The Beatles come to the present-day, and we’d make a music video for 'Let It Be' on Hachijojima Island. I’d appear on the video as a skater. It would be so cool if they’d let me direct it. Imagine creating that video!
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d like to go for a drive with '60s/'70s-era John Lennon. I’d be behind the wheel, so John could have a drink if he wanted. I’d love to sit there and listen as he tells me all kinds of stories about his life and the places he has been. I don’t think an hour would be enough for that.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Well, nobody I know really listens to UK music, so I guess the music itself is unsung! I have a DJ friend who plays grime, and I think it’d be great if the music and artists she plays became more well-known. Artists like Stormzy, Octavian, Slowthai, for example.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Listening to grime was the first time I was aware of UK music. However, I listened to The Beatles and Queen before that without making a UK connection. That would be my parent’s influence. I think the song I consciously pressed the repeat button on is 'Shutdown' by Skepta’s track.
A song that defines the teenage you?
That absolutely has to be Queen. I was listening to them when I was around eighteen or nineteen. I had finished secondary school and started working at FTC—the shop I still work at today. It’s hard for me to choose a track, but let’s go with 'Don’t Stop Me Now'. That was a time when I was hell-bent on going wild.
One record you would keep forever?
'Abbey Road' by The Beatles. The cover image has become so iconic and influential. It’s an album that many people still listen to today, which makes me think it will attract ears way into the future.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
I like a track called 'Angle' by Japanese rapper ISSUGI. He raps with the Monju and Sick Team crews.
Best song to turn up loud?
I don’t really sing—I can’t hold a tune to save my life. But I hum along to 'Don’t Look Back In Anger' by Oasis when I play it at the shop I work in.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
I’m going to say Mall Grab and any one of the four tracks on his EP 'Elegy'. He's an Australian techno artist. Alternatively, the female DJ Peggy Gou. She’s originally from Korea but based in Berlin. I listen to her when I’m skateboarding.
Any new bands you are listening to now?
Cocteau Twins (lol). I first heard their track 'Persephone' on a skateboarding video. I’ve had them on an endless loop ever since. I discover a lot of music through watching videos.