Vol. 12 Seitaro Nakamura One and Only - Return to Classic Longboarding
Seitaro Nakamura, born and raised in Shonan as the son of a legendary father, moved to San Diego, California, where Kevin Connelly and Joel Tudor lived, immediately after graduating from junior high school, and honed his classic longboarding style.
It was the height of the longboard revival in the 90s, and Seitaro gained global recognition by being the only Japanese surfer featured in Thomas Campbell's timeless masterpiece, "The Seedling." After returning to Japan, he further refined his authentic Californian style, becoming a unique presence who has had a tremendous influence to this day.
What would have happened if Seitaro Nakamura had not appeared on the Japanese logging scene? Tracing his footsteps, it became clear that everything was not a coincidence, but a destined inevitability.
（Photo: Yuto Nishikawa）
What originally inspired you to pursue a career as a professional longboarder?
My father is Seiichiro Nakamura, a former professional longboarder and a pioneer of the longboarding world in Japan. Because of that environment, there were always surfing magazines and videos at home. Naturally, I was drawn to longboarding.
How old were you when you started surfing?
I knew my father surfed since I was little, but I wasn't really interested at first. I think I started around my second year of junior high. I heard that Hiroko Sakuma and Yuichi Numata, who were a year older than me, were surfing, so I started with my friends from the same grade. At first, I went to Zushi beach with my friends. After that, I started going to Chigasaki Chisan, which was close to my father's house.
Was it unusual for junior high school students to be longboarding in Chigasaki back then?
Yes, that's right. I don't think there were many kids my age doing longboarding around me. When I first started, I was riding a slightly longer mid-length board with less buoyancy, and it was hard to paddle and catch waves. Then my father told me to "try a longer one" and handed me a longboard. When I tried it, I started catching a lot of waves. I remember it getting more and more fun.
After that, you went to California right after graduating from junior high, right?
Yes. The trigger was when Takuji Masuda, the 2001 JPSA Longboard Grand Champion, introduced me to Kevin Connelly, whom I admired. I was probably 15, right after graduating from junior high. I had been to watch professional competitions with my father several times before that, and that's when I met Takuji. From around the second half of my second year of junior high, I started thinking I wanted to study abroad someday, but I hadn't decided where to go. I knew Kevin Connelly and Joel Tudor, whom I admired from longboard magazines and videos, were in California, and Takuji, who knew them, introduced me. When I visited San Diego after graduating from junior high, I was immediately captivated by the ocean and the city's atmosphere, and I decided to stay.
When you actually went to California, you must have had the opportunity to see their surfing up close. What was that like?
The superstars definitely had an aura about them. But not only that, there were so many stylish surfers, regardless of age. Everyone surfed beautifully. Seeing the real deal up close was a great learning experience. However, while I learned a lot in the water, outside of the water I was still an immature child... I sometimes wonder if I could have had more experiences if I had been a little older.
How long did you stay in California, and where did you mainly surf?
I stayed for a total of about three and a half years, from 1997 when I was 16. I mainly surfed between Cardiff and Swamis in Encinitas, and every day was like "surfing training." On weekdays, I attended a private school, focusing on language studies while diligently completing the high school curriculum.
Besides Kevin and Joel, there must have been many other skilled surfers. Who influenced you the most among them?
There were so many amazing people, but I was particularly influenced by Devon Howard, Tyler Hatzikian, Mitch Abshere, and Eric Sommer. Also, Silas King, who was around the same age but has since passed away, had a big impact on me.
If you went to Malibu, you'd see Matt Howard, Brittany, Josh Farberow, Dane Peterson, and Kassia Meador. Sometimes Rob Machado would be at Cardiff, and Kelly Slater even made a sudden appearance at Swamis. In that sense, it was a continuous series of surprises and inspiration. As I mentioned earlier, there were so many cool surfers that just watching them was enjoyable. I also met Tatsuo Takei in California, and Thomas Campbell lived in the same town.
You became globally known for appearing in Thomas Campbell's "The Seedling" (1999). Was the reaction significant afterward?
That's right. Honestly, at the time, I didn't really feel how big the reaction was. However, as time went on, more and more people told me, "I saw it" or "It influenced me," and I realized it had reached many more people than I had imagined.
In fact, at the premiere screening in Encinitas, besides yourself, the only other Japanese people were probably me and Tatsuo Takei. When you were filming, did you feel that this work would change the future of longboarding worldwide?
It's called a "masterpiece" now, but honestly, at the time of filming, I was just enjoying the sessions and the atmosphere around me. I never imagined that footage would be talked about for so long.
When did you get your JPSA professional qualification in Japan?
I think I took the professional test and passed either right after returning to Japan or during a temporary return. I was probably around 18 or 19 years old. After that, I returned from California permanently and started participating fully in the JPSA pro tour.
Watching your riding, I feel that you carry on the authentic classic longboard style that hadn't been seen in domestic competitions until then. Is your father's influence a major factor in this?
My father's influence is indeed significant. Mickey Dora and David Nuuhiwa were surfers he admired, and I distinctly remember watching old footage with him and thinking, "That's so cool." I am still strongly drawn to that style. I also frequently watched Jerry Lopez and Herbie Fletcher movies as a child, and more recently, surfers like Robin Kegel, Harrison Roach, Jared Mell, and Kai Ellice have been a great source of inspiration.
Among Japanese surfers, there are many seniors I respect and surfers who have influenced me, but those who stand out are Kazuhito Naganuma, Mame Masuda, Takuji Aota, Yasunori Kakae, Toshiya Omi, Takuji Masuda, Kenji Miyauchi, Tetsuya Ogawa, Nobuhiro Ogashira, Tatsuya Yamada, Kazuya Sato, Ryu Nakamura, Kiyotaka Ando, Shinji Oki, Hironosuke Sakuma, Yuichi Numata, and Toshihiro Harada.
Among my peers, Rio Ueda and Tai Yoshida, and among my juniors, Atsushi Fujimura, Dan Kakae, Yuta Setoguchi, Jo Shinjo, Masahito Kobayashi, Ren Maeba, and Naumi Kobayashi, continue to inspire me daily.
Have you been on any surf trips recently?
I haven't been on any international surf trips for a while, but domestically, I've been visiting Aomori about once a year for the past few years. My first visit was for a magazine interview with photographer Pero-san, Yuta Setoguchi, and Masahito Kobayashi. Since then, I've been drawn to the charm of the area and have made it a habit to visit every year in early autumn, just before it gets cold.
I've also been filming in Aomori with Tatsuo Takei for several years, and some of that work was featured in a Surfer's Journal article this year. The waves are great, the nature is beautiful, and I truly feel it's a wonderful place.
（Photo: Junji Kumano）
About the surfboards you choose.
Since I've often ridden single-fin longboards since I started surfing, that image might be firmly established. However, I'm also interested in mid-lengths and slightly shorter boards, not just single-fins, and I sometimes ride them depending on my mood or the conditions. I've ridden boards of various lengths so far, but when it comes to longboards, I've come to realize that the length that best expresses my unique style, or my surfing most naturally, is probably around 9'7" to 9'9".
Finally, what do surfing and the beach mean to you, Seitaro?
The ocean has always been a familiar presence since I was a child. It was a playground, a part of everyday life, and a natural part of the scenery. The ever-changing expressions of the sea with the seasons still captivate my heart.
While my approach to surfing may change depending on my daily rhythm and state of mind, I always find myself drawn to the ocean. I truly feel that for me, the ocean is not just a place, but my very being... my way of life itself.
Seitaro Nakamura ● Born in Zushi City, Kanagawa Prefecture in 1981. After graduating from junior high school, he moved to San Diego, California, and refined his classic longboarding style. He was the only Japanese surfer featured alongside Joel Tudor, Devon Howard, and others in Thomas Campbell's "The Seedling" (1999), which revolutionized the global longboard scene. In 2025, he will be featured in a special article in US Surfer's Journal magazine. His main achievements include winning the JPSA 2nd round Marbo Royal Cup in 2003 and the JPSA Special Edition Oshman's Style Masters in 2012.
Interview by Mio Kawazoe ● Born and residing in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in surfing. His father was a first-generation Japanese surfer, and he encountered foreign cultures from a young age. For 10 years from the early 90s, he lived in San Diego and Malibu, California, experiencing the longboard revival. After returning to Japan, he became the editor-in-chief of ON THE BOARD and worked on magazines such as GLIDE. Through his unique network, he has introduced the real Californian log and alternative surf scene to Japan.