Cammie Shibata knows you’re staring at her. Her skate wheels are flashing, her hair is bright pink, and most afternoons she’s dressed like a sparkly cartoon. And she’s fine with it – as long as you stay to hear her message.
Five years ago, Shibata formed the punk band Kochiyama named after one of her longtime heroes, Yuri Kochiyama. Kochiyama was known for her outspoken civil rights activism, and Shibata wanted to bring that same fiery energy to her music. And she did exactly that. To the outside, her success was a triumph. But on the inside, she was furious. Repeatedly falling victim to the same old sexism at shows was making her tired. So, Cammie decided to fight back. She began naming abusers in her songs to let them know she wouldn’t back down and that she wasn’t afraid. Just as she was gaining traction, she had to move across the country to be with family. She paused her performances, settled in Palo Alto, and planned her next move. Inspired by some of the women she’d seen at the skatepark near her home, she bought a pair of roller skates. After practicing on her own for months, she went to the park in hopes of making a few friends.
That’s when she noticed the aggression.
Five years ago, Shibata formed the punk band Kochiyama named after one of her longtime heroes, Yuri Kochiyama. Kochiyama was known for her outspoken civil rights activism, and Shibata wanted to bring that same fiery energy to her music. And she did exactly that. To the outside, her success was a triumph. But on the inside, she was furious. Repeatedly falling victim to the same old sexism at shows was making her tired. So, Cammie decided to fight back. She began naming abusers in her songs to let them know she wouldn’t back down and that she wasn’t afraid. Just as she was gaining traction, she had to move across the country to be with family. She paused her performances, settled in Palo Alto, and planned her next move. Inspired by some of the women she’d seen at the skatepark near her home, she bought a pair of roller skates. After practicing on her own for months, she went to the park in hopes of making a few friends.
That’s when she noticed the aggression.