Snowboarder, Surfer. Born in Tokyo in 1962.
Taro was one of the pioneer and national champ in the early days of Japanese snowboarding. He participated in the World Extreme Championship in Alaska and have performed highly in other competition scene. In the late 80s, he settles down to Niseko Hokkaido, while traveling to various places, pioneering numerous peaks in and out of Japan. Mt Yotei, Alaska, Mongolia, Far East Russia, Equador, Uzbekistan, Peru, Argentina, to name a few destinations. He’s achieved many first descents as a snowboarder and also published those activities as movies, photographies and articles. While the Japanese sports scene tends to value the results in the competitions as a player’s status, Taro was one of the first to gain people’s support by expressing the cultural and style side of snowboarding.

Taro started his own snowboard brand “GENTEMSTICK” and has been infusing his spirit to make equipments to harmonize with Nature and pursue unknown lines. Being a surfer too, he sees no boundaries in between the two activities. Going surfing in ice cold winter ocean and going riding world class powder snow, he follows the path of the wind and pays attention to the signs of Nature and keeps riding where the best conditions lines up. That style is now acknowledged as new genre called, “SNOWSURF”, and has revolutionized the snowboard design realm. His riding style has been featured in the global catalog of the outdoor brand “Patagonia”, where he’s taking part as the brand’s ambassador, as well as Japanese, European and American magazines and movies. Taro is one of the key person that has promoted the exquisite snow quality and terrain of the Niseko mountains to the world.

Taro is also a fishing and photography aficionado. He’s published his own photobook. The inspiration he gained while traveling the world and living in a natural environment is expressed through his brand “GENTEMSTICK”, his words and photography works, as well as his riding itself. His particular attitude towards his life has been a guideline to many that practices snowboarding and surfing as a lifestyle.

Sponsors
PATAGONIA / HESTRA / POC / DOVE SURFING WETSUITS / KI SURFBOARDS / BOA tech / TOYO TIRES / DESTINATION SURF / ZEN NUTRITION / GROVER / HOYA OPTICS

Appearance

Magazine

THE FREERIDE ALASKA / SIBERIAN WILD HELI BOARDING / MONGOLIA / FULL MOON OVER THE MONTE BIANCO / THE LAST RESORT / THE NISEKO SITUATION / SNOWSURFING ANA INFLIGHT MAG / SNOWSURF GLOBAL PATAGONIA / SNOWSURF ISSUE DIGGIN MAG / TAROTAMAI INTERVIEW FREQUENCY MAG / SNOWSURF SEBU AIRLINES INFLIGHT MAG / THE FATHER OF SNOWSURFING 0MAG / TERASU / NISEKO CHRONICLES DIGGIN MAG / TAROTAMAI INTERVIEW NORDIC SURF MAG / etc...

Movie TV
AURA DEEP POWDER EXPERIENCE / PUBLIC SENTIMENT 16mm MOVIE / ICON SERIES / PERSONA / SIGNATURES / THE SPRING SESSION / SLIDEWAY AUSTRIA / SNOWSURF PATAGONIA GLOBAL / TREELINE PATAGONIA GLOBAL / etc...

Award
Transworld Best Powder Board 2016
Transworld Best Powder Board 2017

Results
All Japan Snowsurfing Champion 1986
ISF Worldcup Japan team1997-1998
K2 Shires Series 1st Place
Mbbs 11th Place 1989
World Extreme Snowboarding Championship etc...