SKATEBOARDING PLACES AT PUBLIC PARKS IN TOKYO

Abstract

There are two types of skateboarding places at public parks in Tokyo. One is the purpose build parks; the other is the appropriative sites. When skaters discover an appropriative site, they stay the site as they can, take their own boxes and ramps, and make a small group for the maintenance. They name there group “local” (e.g. “Akihabara Local”). In Japan, primary sites have been moving from the appropriative sites to the purpose build parks, science 1990's. Refers to an short interview with the 64 users of a park and two sites, the notions of the skaters has two tendencies as follows;(1) the needs for the adequate place to skateboarding move, (2) for the appropriation itself to make relationships of the skaters group. Corresponding this youth culture, the local governments has build and maintain the purpose build parks, and cooperated with the locals to keep a few appropriative sites.