Japan used to think skateboarding was a pastime for delinquents but the country has grown into a global powerhouse in the sport and is expected to dominate at this month's Paris Olympics.
Children as young as six can be seen zipping up ramps and grinding down rails at skate parks all over Japan, with instructors teaching tricks while parents wait patiently nearby.
It is a far cry from skateboarding's original street culture image, but it is producing spectacular results, with Japan winning three of the four available golds on the sport's Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago.
National team coach Daisuke Hayakawa told AFP that the number of skaters in Japan had tripled since and believes his team can clean up at the Paris Games.
Ominously for everyone else, he says they will have a steady production line of talent for years to come.
"It's become something that kids take lessons in," said the 50-year-old. "Parents used to tell their kids to stop skateboarding. Now parents take their kids to skate parks. If their shoes or boards wear out, they buy them new ones.
"It has become a very well supported sport," he added.
Hayakawa was speaking at a Tokyo skate park that opened in 2022, one of several to spring up since the Olympics.
Despite the punishing summer heat, the sound of wheels clacking against concrete and wood scraping against metal hangs in the air as skaters young and old practise.
"Things have completely changed because of the Olympics. It has had a big impact," said Takumi Shimabukuro, a parent watching his nine-year-old son Yuya fearlessly fly up and down a halfpipe.
International competitions are regularly won by young skaters but the ages of Japan's medallists at the Tokyo Games were eye-catching by any standard.
Kokona Hiraki took silver in the women's park competition at the age of 12, while women's street gold medallist Momiji Nishiya was 13.
Japan will head to Paris with another fresh-faced squad featuring a pair of 14-year-olds in men's prodigy Ginwoo Onodera and women's street skater Coco Yoshizawa.
Hayakawa believes the fearlessness of youth was a big factor in Japan's Tokyo Games success.
"They were too young to understand the importance of the Olympics," he said. "They didn't really know how big a stage they were competing on, so they weren't nervous."
Japan's team for Paris will also feature defending men's street champion Yuto Horigome, who clinched his place by winning the qualifying competition in Budapest in June.
The 25-year-old was on the verge of missing out after a disappointing showing at the previous qualifying event but he came through when it counted.
Hayakawa describes Horigome as an elder statesman who has been an inspiration for Japan's younger generation.
"He set his sights higher, he entered international competitions, he got better and better and became recognized as the best street skater in the world," said Hayakawa. "Young kids here saw that and thought, 'If Yuto can do it, we have a chance as well.'"
Horigome is determined to retain his street title in Paris but he will face stiff competition from his own team-mates.
Sora Shirai is the reigning world champion, while Onodera finished second in Budapest, where half of the eight finalists were Japanese.
Competition for squad places was so fierce that world silver medallist Kairi Netsuke missed the cut.
"It really feels like you're representing your country," Horigome said after locking up his spot. "It's different from other competitions."
Coach Hayakawa started skateboarding almost 40 years ago and has seen it evolve from its shady roots on the streets to become an Olympic sport.
He says he will be happy if the Paris spotlight brings more kids to skateboarding and believes Japan can remain a hotbed of talent.
"We're diligent and we put in a lot of practice," he said. "We think about how best to win a competition. We're also not so big physically, so the way we move our bodies is suited to skateboarding."
© 2024 AFP
26 Comments
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PTownsend
Fearless indeed and tough, concrete is hard, after all. Fortunately board technology has improved considerably from the days when skaters attached wheels from old roller skates to a piece of plywood.
Asiaman7
12, 13, and 14 year olds? Should there be a higher minimum age requirement to participate in the Olympics?
Advocates suggest the pressure can be too excessive for a young teen, particularly in countries that place so much emphasis on achieving Gold.
Critics of a higher age suggest that it would have a disproportionate impact on smaller nations with fewer athletes.
The youngest Olympian at Tokyo 2020 was a Syrian table tennis player who competed at the age of 12.
The International Gymnastics Federation is among the governing bodies to have an age limit in place for the Olympic Games. Gymnasts must be at least 16 years of age, or turning 16 within the calendar year, to participate.
Additionally, the International Skating Union (ISU) has voted to raise the minimum age for skaters to 17 from the 2024-25 season onwards, in time for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
In 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board advised international federations to make appropriate adjustments to their minimum age regulations.
But for most sports and countries, the minimum age remains 13.
piskian
Balls.
Japan won last Olympics,yet skateboarders still experience unnecessary hassle from police,and community in general.
Just last week,was told by police officer to stay off the sidewalk,then round the corner,told to stay on the sidewalk.
Don't believe the hype.
factchecker
Japan used to think skateboarding was a pastime for delinquents
It still is if you see the passive aggressive signs everywhere.
dbsaiya
It's not a sport, it's recreational a pastime. Just anther event added for only the rich countries to participate in.
TheDalaiLamasBifocals
Dbsaiya...
the definition of a sport is 'An activity involving physical exertion and skill esp. one regulated by set rules or customs in which an individual or team competes against another or others.'
Thus your comment is of the incorectingnessness.
Torelol
Wrong on both assertions. Skateboarding is a sport, you like it or not. And it is been considered a sport way before it got into the Olympics. It needs extreme training and concentration. Its technical aspect goes way beyond that what can be achieved on skying, snowboarding or any type of surfing. he freedom it gives has no limits.
And I've seen skateboarding in very poor and rural areas. If you want to train and be considered a professional, you will need proper installations. But this is true on any other sport at a high level. The problem is many countries, poor and rich alike, still think like you, that skateboarding is not a sport. Not only that, just like Japan, it actively banns practicing it and looks down on it. Even though Japan won gold medal on the Olympics, there are just a few skateparks and most are wrongly design, making them very dangerous. Not even think about skating in the street. The cops will fine you.
Laguna
Most sports are. An attraction of skateboarding is its low cost. All you need is a smooth road (that not a given in most of the world, though) and a small investment (anybody remember the Banana Board?) and you're set to go. Skateboard parks can be built with scrap wood. The skills these acrobats on wheels learn through trial-and-error (lotsa errors, and they are remembered) are certainly transferable to the real world after competitive days are over. And it indicates that the Olympics are paying attention to youth. It is a well-welcomed sport addition, IMHO.
Japantime
Most of the other countries competing have Japanese as their Olympic hopefuls too. It is the same as Snowboarding, Japan produce the most skillful and fearless skateboarders. I haven’t heard of other countries that are able to skateboard as well as Japanese skateboarders. I have even seen it at the local park. The foreign skateboarders are really not as good as the local Japanese.
リッチ
Near my place alone I can count more than 5 different opens areas saying no skate boards. So Street culture? Where are they doing it?
smithinjapan
Japantime: "Most of the other countries competing have Japanese as their Olympic hopefuls too. It is the same as Snowboarding, Japan produce the most skillful and fearless skateboarders. I haven’t heard of other countries that are able to skateboard as well as Japanese skateboarders. I have even seen it at the local park. The foreign skateboarders are really not as good as the local Japanese."
Nothing but hogwash. If you are a true skater or just a fan you can name off a dozen of the best skaters of all time, and I don't think there's a Japanese name among them. Say the name Tony Hawk and everyone will nod their heads and bow, but I had to look up Japanese skaters just to find any. There is a lot of talent, I am sure, but to say they are the best skaters and snowboarders in the world and no one is tougher is utter rubbish.
And what skate parks? I have not seen a single one in Japan... EVER. In fact, all I ever see in any parks big enough to skate in and not covered in dirt have "No skateboards" plastered everywhere. I do occasionally see kids skateboarding on suburban roads, but they are barely moving around in front of their houses.
Fighto!
Japanese kids are born to skateboard, BMX - and break-dance too! They sure are into urban street culture.
Good luck to all these youthful competitors in Paris.
Fighto!
What's the old saying - "If you're good enough, you're old enough".
If a kid of 11 or 12 is physically capable of skating, snowboarding, breakdancing etc - and mentally mature enough - why not? It seems Japanese kids mature a lot faster than kids in many other places.
Futaro Gamagori
Lots of haters in this room
As always
TokyoLiving
The whole world used to think that..
But now it's different..
Good for Japan..
It means assured golds for Japan olympics..
TokyoLiving
Cut your drama, dry the tears, LOL..
TokyoLiving
It's a sport that requires a lot of practice and discipline..
Like it or not..
TokyoLiving
Totally agree..
This web is full of lousy Japan whiny hater losers...
deanzaZZR
The current answer is 11 as I saw a headline about an 11 year old Chinese skateboarder making the Olympic team.
USNinJapan2
Skating used to be counterculture even if you were a sponsored "pro" and if you were a skater it meant you valued creativity, risk, and freedom and did it wherever you could find a suitable swimming pool, curb, wall, or drop around town for shredding or where you could built a ramp or halfpipe and it almost always meant you angered the local residents, cops, and your parents. Now that it's a wholly sanctioned and organized "sport" run by adults with the approval and support of the government, parents, etc., skating has lost its soul as a youth street subculture and is just another fashionable BS pastime. At least that's my perspective as someone who grew up as a skater in the 80s.
Asiaman7
Fighto!
We can thus assume that you would favor eliminating the minimum ages of 16 and 17 implemented by the International Gymnastics Federation and International Skating Union, respectively.
Not sure that’s the best path forward.
WoodyLee
Awesome, glad to see these kids enjoying this sport, skateboarding outdoors on beache, bike, trails, parks and open uncrowded area should also be allowed so kids can enjoy it to the limit.
What's with the masks!!??
Fighto!
I'm going to assume you are yet to visit Japan.
Brian Trout
Instead of skateboarding, I would love to see the return of former Olympic events like the tug-of-war, 60-meter dash, and rugby.
piskian
@Brian Trout
I concur,as my homeland of Cornwall beat Australia in the tug-of-war and rugby.
Also,egg and spoon,sack race,and obstacle fancy dress race should be reintroduced.
lostrune2
It's sad when people only skateboard in designated centers
It's not just a competitive sport - it's something people do for fun
The world would be a lot less fun place without Marty McFly