When did you first get into skateboarding and why?

I skated for the first time when I was 18, one of my friends was skating and he let me try it. Then I met another girl who wanted to start skating at a store I was working at when I was 23. We were both beginners and girl skaters so we could practice together and it was fun.

And so then how did you get into filming?

I wanted to help the skaters in my local city, Kawagoe (40 minutes away from Tokyo). They were happy when they watched films I’d done.

What equipment do you use – what is your style of filming?

I use a Sony VX2000 camera. I always film skating (no photography) as I want to try and show the audience the speed and aggressiveness of the movement.

Has there always been a separate girls seen in Japan?

I don’t know how many girl skaters exist in other countries but the population has increased in the last 10 years in Japan. It has changed from the time when it was rare that even one single girl skater was skating at a skate park to a time when it is normal that two or three girl skaters are there.

You have since made Joy and Sorrow 2. Was it easier the second time round?

Although I’m making Joy and Sorrow 3 right now, there have always been different challenges on each one. It’s not easy. We couldn’t always film as we wanted to – we just couldn’t land every trick, a skater got injured etc…but definitely after I finished 1 it was easier to capture the image of 2, to film and to tell people about it.

When making Joy and Sorrow how much support do you get from brands and the industry? Or do you put a lot of time in for free to make it happen?

No, I didn’t have any support at all. In my case, I work and I put all my money on the film. I spent weekends and weeknights making it!

Do you make a living from skating?

No. No, I don’t, I must say I can’t. I don’t think there is skater who makes enough money from skating for a living. I’m working at life insurance company.

How much contact do you have with the growing female skate scene worldwide?

I know Kim from Mahfia TV, Ben the editor of Sidewalk Magazine and his Japanese wife Ayumi. I’ve met French Magenta crew a few times when they came to Japan and I met them when I visited San Francisco too.

Have you noticed it change, an increase in female skaters or more interest in women’s skating?

I believe girl skaters have increased, especially the number of kids. I didn’t see kid skaters at all about 10 years ago. I also believe the number of young people who have skateboards as a fashion accessory has increased. Even if they are not skaters, the fashion and culture has been accepted by society – though we still sometimes get kicked out when we skate in the streets lol!

How do you think hosting the Olympics in 2020 will change things for skateboarding in Japan?

Now, skaters are being picked up on general TV shows. It was impossible until now for something like this. It’s really changing. Even the number of skate parks is increasing. The number of people who started getting interested in skateboarding is up. I hope many people who are interested in Japanese skaters, parks, and films want to come skating in Japan from all over the world.

Are you looking forward to the Olympics being in Tokyo?

I’m more curious how it’s going to be than looking forward to.

More importantly, Joy and Sorrow 3 is coming out at the end of the summer – what can you tell us about it now?

Joy and Sorrow 1, I just did my best to complete it.

Joy and Sorrow 2, I was focused on filming more killer skating than the first one.

Joy and Sorrow 3, I am focusing on not only skate skills but also showing skateboarding is for fun. Showing that it is a part of our lives and not only for competitions. That skateboarding is freedom! I hope I can tell the message that there is not ‘only one cool style in skateboarding’- that it’s not only about winning competitions. This is important with the Olympics coming up.

How can we find out more about the female skate scene in Japan and follow what you do?

All the updates are on the Joy and Sorrow page on Facebook and you can follow me @yuriyuri_desu on Instagram. You can also find out about the Japanese female skate scene on a blog called Colorful Project.

Any final words for us here in Europe?

I started what I am doing to activate and promote the girls skate scene in Japan. Now I want to get connections and activate the girls skate scene all over the world together. The population of girl skaters are less than boy skaters but I believe there are things only girl skaters can do. It would be awesome if someone made a film about only girl skaters from all over the world! Let’s just skate! I hope everyone keep skating with their favourite skate life.