Shogo Kubo (September 19, 1959 – June 24, 2014) was a Japanese American skateboarding pioneer and one of the original members of the Z-Boys that formed in Venice, California in 1975.^[1]

Born in Kagoshima, Japan, Kubo began skateboarding when he was 6 years old.^[2]

When he moved to the United States, he took an interest in surfing. He became friends with Jay Adams after responding to a newspaper ad about a surfboard Adams was selling. Kubo used Adams's skateboard, which eventually led to his passion for skateboarding and his joining the Z-Boys. His style was widely respected by his peers.^[3] He influenced future pro-skateboarders such as Christian Hosoi and was featured in the Dogtown photos of Glen E. Friedman.^[4]

Shogo left the competitive scene in the 1980s, later moving to Hawaii where he got married and had two children.^[2] In the 2005 American biographical drama film Lords of Dogtown, Kubo was portrayed by pro skateboarder Don Nguyen. Kubo designed a sneaker for Nike in 2007, the Nike SB "Shogo" Blazers.^[5] Kubo had worn Nike Blazers while skateboarding since the 1970s.^[6]

Death

Kubo was found unresponsive while paddleboarding off Portlock Point in Hawaii Kai, Honolulu. He died of a brain aneurysm at age 54.^[7] He was survived by his wife, Michiyo; son, Shota; daughter, Meagan; brothers Yoshifumi and Shinya; and sister, Reiko Masuda.^[8]