Julius Brian Siswojo is as well known for co-founding Hong Kong’s pioneering hip-hop group 24Herbs as he is for championing skateboarding in the city.
Having been “on the deck” – skateboarding, for the uninitiated – since 1988, the 52-year-old is acutely aware of the negative stereotypes associated with the culture: rebellious youths causing trouble in the streets late at night.
But Siswojo, who says he does not drink, smoke or touch drugs, stays focused on a healthy lifestyle – not just for himself but also for his loved ones.
From Jakarta to Hong Kong, a skate nerd’s journey
Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, Siswojo moved to Hong Kong in 1985 at age 11 because his mother insisted on providing him and his elder sister with a better education.
“It was already very hard for my parents to pay for [our] living expenses,” he says, “so since I was little, I felt I had to make sure they were proud of their decision.”