Looks like Kanoa Igarashi isn’t content with just dominating the surf – now he’s coming for the golf course too. Golf equipment brand TaylorMade has officially welcomed him to “Team TaylorMade,” because apparently, excelling at one sport just wasn’t enough for him. As part of the deal, TaylorMade will be supplying Kanoa with top-notch golf …
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The Japan edition of NO CONTEST, a series on Red Bull’s YouTube channel that looks at surf communities around the world, has finally been released. Kanoa Igarashi, the host of this video, visited Japan ahead of the video’s release. He participated in a preview screening and talk show held at a venue in Tokyo and …
The La Union International Pro LQS was recently held over three days in La Union, Luzon, Philippines. In the Men’s comp, local surfer Rogelio Jr Esquivel won for the third year in a row. In the Women’s comp, Japan’s Hiroatsu Yoshikawa, who made it to the finals for the third year in a row, beat …
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In January 2025, Japanese professional surfer Kanoa Igarashi will return to Japan to promote the upcoming documentary film “Red Bull Surfing ‘No Contest Tokyo.’” This film, part of Red Bull Surfing’s popular “No Contest” series, will spotlight Igarashi and delve into Japan’s vibrant surf scene. To celebrate the film’s release, a special advance screening is …
The Japan Professional Surfing Association (JPSA), led by Chairman Tetsuo Hosokawa, was recently recognized at the Reiwa 6 Niijima Awards Ceremony hosted by Niijima Village in Tokyo. This honor celebrates JPSA’s long-standing efforts to boost regional development through surfing and acknowledges their significant contributions to local culture and economy. Bringing Top-Tier Surfing Events to Niijima …
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Ichinomiya Town in Chiba Prefecture, one of Japan’s most iconic surf destinations, is now making waves globally as it works toward becoming a World Surfing Reserve (WSR). This designation, overseen by the international Save The Waves Coalition, celebrates and protects coastal areas with outstanding surf culture and environmental value. If successful, Ichinomiya will join the …
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The 2024 ISA World Para Surfing Championship in Huntington Beach, California, saw Japan achieve a strong performance, winning four individual medals and securing fourth place overall as a team. Among the 180 participants from 29 nations, Japan stood out, with Shota Nakamura winning gold in the Men’s Stand 1 category, showcasing advanced skills and determination. …
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On August 18th, 2024, Shizunami Surf Stadium in Makinohara, Shizuoka, became the vibrant epicenter of surfing culture as the BEWET team and Kolohe Andino launched the “2 Percent Surf Japan Tour.” This tour, centered around the surf film “Hijinx,” is not only a showcase of top-tier surfing talent but also a celebration of the surf …
Exciting Start to the Three-Event QS Series: “whitebuffalo OMAEZAKI PRO 2024” Kicks Off on September 4th On September 4th, 2024, the “whitebuffalo OMAEZAKI PRO 2024” will take place in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture. This marks the first of three events in Japan’s QS series, where surfers compete for the opportunity to qualify for the 2025 WSL/CS. …
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The KITAIZUMI SURF FESTIVAL 2024 will be held again this year from 3-6 Oct at Kitaizumi Beach in Minami Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture. Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pQ5q3sCHM2MDn5AD6 Top professional surfers from Japan and abroad will be invited to the event to showcase the traditions and attractions of surfing and Fukushima. Following last year, the event aims …
As the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, the spotlight is on the surfing competitions to be held at the legendary Tahiti island’s Teahupo’o. This iconic surf spot is known for its crystal-clear waves, creating perfect barrels that promise thrilling tube rides for the competitors. Japan’s national surfing team, “Naminori Japan,” will don a special uniform designed …
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The vibrant shores of Canggu, Bali, recently hosted the prestigious ‘TWINKLE TOES LOG FESTIVAL’ on June 29th and 30th. This exclusive longboard event, organized by Times Beach Warung, combined the thrill of surfing with the joys of music, delectable food, and refreshing beer. With the presence of 2022 World Champion Harrison Roach, the festival attracted …
Continue reading “Japan’s Natsumi Taoka Triumphs at Bali’s TWINKLE TOES LOG FESTIVAL”
Donavon Frankenreiter, celebrated musician and former pro surfer, is marking 20 years since his solo debut with a tour in Japan this fall. He’ll perform in Nagoya, Tokyo, and Osaka, promoting his new album “Get Outta Your Mind.” Special guest Ziggy Alberts, an acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter, will join him. Frankenreiter’s music journey began in 2004 …
Renowned American surfer Kolohe Andino recently visited Ichinomiya Town Hall in Chiba Prefecture to promote his new film, “2% Surf World Premier Tour.” Scheduled for release in August, the film underscores the ocean’s beauty and the vital importance of preserving it. Andino’s project aims to captivate audiences by sharing the joys of surfing and oceanic …
The sixth episode of “EYE OF THE STORM,” which goes behind the scenes of Kanoa Igarashi’s World Championship Tour, is now out. In this series, you’ll follow Kanoa through a year filled with dreams, moments, and memories. Episode 6, titled “A Trip to the Goldie,” takes us to Australia’s Gold Coast, specifically Snapper Rocks. Amidst …
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Japanese surfer Mirai Ikeda emerged victorious at the Krui Pro Junior event in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Ikeda showcased her exceptional talent, navigating the challenging waves with precision and skill. This victory marks a significant milestone in her career, reflecting the growing prominence of Japanese surfers on the global stage. Ikeda’s triumph is a testament to …
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Plans to build a surfing pool manufactured by Wavegarden in Japan have finally been announced. It is scheduled to open in spring 2026, and will be located in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture, on the Karasuma Peninsula, which juts out into Lake Biwa. The facility will officially be called “WAVE PARK BIWAKO”. Located about 50 minutes …
“Stab High”, the surf contest that celebrates the art of flight and aerials, will be held at Shizunami Surf Stadium on 22-23 June. Many surfers are scheduled to visit Japan, including the winner of the previous event, Robbie McCormick, as well as Chippa Wilson, Julian Wilson, Matt Meola, Mikey Wright, Noah Dean and Mason Ho. …
Jamie O’Brien ditched the tropical vibes of Hawaii for a chilly adventure in Hokkaido, Japan. With excitement levels off the charts, he kicked off his day by conquering some epic “japow” slopes, followed by a laid-back session catching waves in the Sea of Japan. Talk about making the most of a day on Japan’s northernmost …
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Connor O’Leary, a surfer originally from Australia, revealed that he’s been chosen to represent Japan at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This decision came after he formally changed his allegiance to his mother’s homeland last year. Hailing from Cronulla in south Sydney, O’Leary was granted a third men’s spot on the Japan team by the Nippon …
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A full-scale surfing wave pool by Wavegarden, a company that started in the UK and Spain and is now also operating in Australia, Brazil and South Korea and now eyeing potential sites in Japan. Those interested in the Wavegarden facility are encouraged to take part in the survey (see link below) Overview of Wavegarden’s pool …
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The Nippon Surfing Association (NSA) announced on 6 June that Conor O’Leary, a WSL Championship Tour (CT) competitor, has applied to move from Australia to Japan. The application was made by the NSA at his request and is currently under consideration by the ISA (International Surfing Federation). If the application is approved, his nationality will …
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Last year, the ‘Kitaizumi Coast’ in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, underwent a successful re-launch as a prominent surf tourism destination. As part of this strategic initiative, Minamisoma City orchestrated a well-structured ‘Surf Town PR Monitor Tour’, featuring the esteemed presence of professional surfers Kenji Miyauchi and Yugo Kawabata. This exclusive tour enabled them to experience the …
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The 2023 Surf Paradise Executive Committee recently announced that it will hold a surfing event called the “Kitaizumi Surf Festival 2023 Fukushima Reconstruction Support Beach Event @ Minami-soma” from 16 (Sat) to 18 (Mon) September. Twelve years after the Fukushima disaster, the number of surfers enjoying surfing in the Fukushima area has increased and events …
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Japanese athletes Anon Matsuoka and Kana Nakashio emerged victorious in the highly competitive women’s QS5,000 and Pro Junior competitions at the esteemed 2023 Kului Pro World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 5,000 and Pro Junior event. The culmination of this thrilling contest took place on the final day, leaving spectators in awe of the …
The eight-day 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games’ in El Salvador recently came to an end. This year, in addition to the WSG medals, this was an important event for the selection of athletes for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2023 Pan American Games. The 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA …
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As the summer sun beckons, surfers around the world are eager to catch the perfect wave and explore new horizons. While places like Hawaii and Australia are well-known for their surfing spots, there’s another hidden gem that deserves your attention: Japan. This summer, consider embarking on a surfing trip to Japan, a destination that offers …
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The surfing world is abuzz with excitement as Kanoa Igarashi, the sensational young surfer, clinches his second consecutive title and secures the top spot to represent his country in the upcoming Paris Olympics Surfing World Games. With his remarkable skills and unwavering determination, Igarashi has cemented his status as one of the most formidable surfers …
The world of professional surfing is mourning the loss of one of its most revered athletes, Naohisa Ogawa. The legendary pro surfer, known for his unmatched talent and vibrant personality, succumbed to the battle against colon cancer. Naohisa’s untimely demise has sent shockwaves through the Japanese surfing community, leaving a void that will be hard …
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With fewer than three months left until the Games are set to open, the venue which is scheduled to host the upcoming Japan surfing competition is refusing to cooperate by not setting up COVID-19 testing facilities for athletes. This is creating a few logistical problems for Japan struggling to drum up support for an already …
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A senior member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stated that the cancellation of the Olympic Games, is on the cards should the Corona Virus not be contained. Japan is reportedly spending at least $25 billion to put on the games, so there’s a lot at stake here. The IOC’s Dick Pound (yes, that’s …
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Japan will finally open a wave pool powered by American Wave Machines (AWM) before the start of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Kelly Slater and his WSL will have to take second place to the new Japanese surf lagoon, currently being built in Shizunami, Shizuoka Prefecture, about 280 kilometers from Tsurigasaki Beach, the official venue …
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4 more surfers have secured their places for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics following the Rip Curl Pro in Portugal The USA’s Kolohe Andino, Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb, and France’s Jeremy Flores and Johanne Defay will make the trek to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. There is one event remaining on the World Surf League tour schedule. …
Australia has taken out the Aloha Cup title at the World Surfing Games in Miyazaki Japan. Aussie Ryan Callinan, Owen Wright, Sally Fitzgibbons and Nikki Van Dijk scored a total of 38.19 points to take the win. South Africa won silver with 38.11 points, and the US scored 35.38 for the bronze at the International …
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The waves have officially been tested for surfing at Tokyo 2020 Olympics! Local competitors tested the waves at Tsurigasaki Beach – located 90 kilometres south-east of Tokyo (2-hour train ride) – the venue for next year’s Olympic surfing debut. This event forms part of the ‘Ready Steady Tokyo’ series of test events. The International Surfing …
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July 15th and 16th sees the first artificial wave pool world tour in commence in Japan. With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics fast approaching, the popularity of surfing in Japan has skyrocketed, and keen to build on this momentum, organisers have put on the Citywave pro WORLD TOUR in Tokyo. JEEP is sponsoring the event with …
Kanoa Igarashi became the first Japanese surfer to win a Championship Tour event on Saturday at the Corona Bali Protected. The 21-year-old scored 15.10 points in his final heat, beating France’s Jeremy Flores by 0.47. En the way to winning the third CT event of the season, Igarashi also eliminated Kelly Slater and Adrian Buchan. …
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After the Golden Week holiday period this year, surfers were geared up to participate in the inaugural Japan Open of Surfing, which was organized by the Nippon Surfing Association. The event took place in Ichinomiyacho, Chiba Prefecture, which is an Olympic surfing competition venue. Shun Murakami won the mens division. Murakami also previously won 4th …
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The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee has just announced the details of the surfing schedule, just in time before tickets go on sale for the events after May. The opening ceremony will be held on July 24, 2020 and the closing ceremony will be on August 9th. The “Olympic Surfing Festival” (a tentative name at this …
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Japan’s Keito Matsuoka has taken out the O’Neill Wave of the Winter award for a gutsy ride in January of this year at Pipeline. Building on his User Choice entry from last year’s competition, Matsuoka got another entry into the comp, only a little bigger and heavier. The 29 year old Japanese national started coming …
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Leading up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, we can expect to see a plethora of new TV commercials and sponsorships for athletes competing. Recently one of Japan’s surfing gold medal hopes, Kanoa Igarashi has just been featured in a new TV commercial for VISA Debit. The new commercial which features Igarashi riding a wave of …
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The Tokyo organising committee of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has unveiled the official pictograms, and the surfing pictogram is getting some serious air on a single fin retro board. Pictograms were first introduced at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and are used for a variety of purposes including signs at competition venues, on licensed products, …
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On 11 March 2011 a massive earthquake triggered a tsunami along Japan’s north-east coast, killing almost 19,000 people and displacing tens of thousands more. Although insignificant compared to the loss of life, the surfing community in Fukushima was also hit hard, with many beaches declared a no-go zone in the wake of the nuclear meltdowns. …
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Japan’s Sara Wakita managed to grab second place honours at the Sisstrevolution Central Coast Pro held in Avoca, Central Coast, NSW, Australia. Wakita lost the hard fought final in bumpy 3-to-4 foot right-handers to Sage Erickson (US). This marks the first time 16 year old Wakita has made it past the early rounds of a …
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There’s no doubt about it. Tourism in Japan has certainly skyrocketed the past few years. Not only from neighbouring China, but also from western countries, particularly Australia. And unfortunately with high tourism numbers, comes a high chance of unruly behaviour. Foreign visitors to Japan reached a record high of 30 million in 2018, and it …
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The introduction of Surfing at the 2020 Olympics in Tsurigasaki Beach Chiba Prefecture hasn’t been without controversy. There are many naysayers who are against holding the event at an actual beach, rather they would prefer to have the surfing events held in a wave pool where the quality and condition of waves can be controlled. …
The ISA (International Surfing Association) recently announced the the first direct qualifier for surfing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be held in September this year. This September 7-15, the World Surfing Games will hold a qualifying event at Kisakihama Beach in Miyazaki Prefecture. ISA President Fernando Aguerre said, “Japan has demonstrated time and again …
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