Japanese skateboarding youth turns street culture into Olympic gold

Japan once thought of skateboarding as a pastime for criminals, but the country has since emerged as a global player in the sport and is expected to dominate this month’s Olympic Games in Paris.

All over Japan, children as young as 6 can be seen racing down ramps and skating on rails while instructors teach tricks and parents wait patiently.

It is still far removed from the original image of skateboarding, which was lived on the streets, but it does produce spectacular results. For example, three years ago, Japan won three of a possible four gold medals at the sport’s debut at the Tokyo Olympics.

According to national coach Daisuke Hayakawa, the number of skaters in Japan has tripled since then and he believes his team can perform well at the Games in Paris.

He predicts that there will be a steady supply of talent in the coming years, which bodes ill for the rest of the world.

“It’s become something that kids are taught,” the 50-year-old said. “Parents used to tell their kids to stop skateboarding. Now parents take their kids to skate parks. When their shoes or boards get worn out, they buy new ones.

“It has become a sport with a lot of support.”

Hayakawa was speaking at a skate park in Tokyo that opened in 2022. It is one of several skate parks that have opened since the Olympics.

Despite the biting summer heat, the sound of wheels clattering over concrete and wood scraping over metal was clearly audible as young and old practiced.

“The Olympics completely changed everything. It had a big impact,” said Takumi Shimabukuro, a parent who watched his 9-year-old son Yuya fly fearlessly up and down a halfpipe.

Teenager stairs

International competitions are regularly won by young skaters, but the ages of the Japanese medal winners at the Tokyo Games were nevertheless striking.

Kokona Hiraki won silver in the women’s park competition at the age of 12, while Momiji Nishiya, winner of the gold in the street, was 13 years old.

Japan’s Onodera Ginwoo will compete in the preliminary rounds for men’s street skateboarding during the Olympic qualifying series for breaking, BMX freestyle, skateboarding and sport climbing events in Shanghai on May 16. | AFP-JIJI

Japan travels to Paris with another fresh team, consisting of two 14-year-olds: male prodigy Ginwoo Onodera and female street skater Coco Yoshizawa.

Hayakawa believes that the fearlessness of the youth was a major factor in Japan’s success at the Tokyo Olympics.

“They were too young to understand the importance of the Olympics,” he said. “They didn’t really know how big the stage was that they were competing on, so they weren’t nervous.”

The Japanese team for Paris also includes the reigning men’s street champion, Yuto Horigome, who qualified in Budapest in June by winning the qualifying event.

The 25-year-old driver was in danger of missing out on the final after a disappointing performance at the previous qualifying event, but he persevered when it mattered.

Hayakawa describes Horigome as an elder statesman who is an inspiration to the younger generation in Japan.

“He set high standards, competed in international competitions, improved and became recognized as the best street skater in the world,” Hayakawa said.

“Young kids here saw that and thought, ‘If Yuto can do it, we have a chance too.’”

Power in the depths

Horigome is determined to retain his street title in Paris, but he faces stiff competition from his own teammates.

Hayakawa participates in an interview at a skateboard training ground in Tokyo on June 12. | AFP-JIJI

Sora Shirai is the reigning world champion, while Onodera finished second in Budapest, where half of the eight finalists were Japanese.

The battle for a spot in the squad was so fierce that World Championship silver medalist Kairi Netsuke did not make the cut.

“It really feels like you’re representing your country,” Horigome said after securing his spot. “It’s different from other competitions.”

Coach Hayakawa started skateboarding almost 40 years ago and has seen the sport evolve from an obscure street sport to an Olympic sport.

He says he will be happy if the attention in Paris encourages more kids to take up skateboarding and he believes Japan can continue to be a breeding ground for talent.

“We are diligent and we practice a lot,” he said. “We think about how we can best win a competition. We are also not that big physically, so the way we move our bodies is suitable for skateboarding.”