Kids Take Center Stage at Skateparks in Japan

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Japanese athletes won two gold medals (Yuto Horigome for men’s street and Coco Yoshizawa for women’s street), and two silvers medals (Liz Akama for women’s street and Cocona Hiraki for women’s park). With four medals, Japan took home more medals than any other country or region. This was a continuation of Japan’s great performance at the last summer Olympics in Tokyo. But when did Japan become famous for skateboarding? Let’s find out how Japan took the skateboarding world by storm!

How Long Have Skateparks Been Around in Japan?

In the 1960s, surfers in Japan began to try out skateboarding. Then, in the mid-70s, the number of people skating in parks began to increase, and near the end of the decade a skatepark was opened on the roof of a department store in Shibuya, starting a brief fad.

From there, the number of skaters continued to grow, but there weren’t many parks dedicated to skating. Without a good place to enjoy their hobby, the number of skaters started to decrease. However, in the late 80s, people began to incorporate kickflips and other tricks into skateboarding, and the fad was back again. In the 1990s, skateboarding became a part of youth street culture, along with street fashion, music, and graffiti art. By that time most of the skateparks had closed, so skaters started doing tricks on city stairs and railways, and they began to be seen as a public nuisance.

With Japan’s dense population, finally there was nowhere left to skate. But then, lovers of skateboarding began building their own DIY skate ramps and half pipes and negotiating with park authorities for some park space to skate in. By campaigning and collecting signatures, in the late 90s skateboarders finally won permission to use park space during certain times.

It Took a Lot of Effort for Skateparks to Spread Across Japan

As skateparks slowly began to open again, they attracted skaters from all over Japan. Finally they could have fun and skate openly. But as the number of skaters increased, so did the number of people skating outside the times and spaces designated for skating. Noise and pollution became a problem, and some parks were close to shutting down. It was then that the adults who originally collected signatures and negotiated for the skating spaces made an appeal to their fellow skaters. They called on them to improve their manners, spreading the idea that if you don’t respect the rules, you won’t have a place to have fun and enjoy your hobby openly anymore.

These grassroots activities were a success, and skateparks continued to slowly pop up in places like public parks and indoor facilities. Soon, contests and tournaments began to be held.

As Japan entered the 21st century, the generation who were passionate about skateboarding as kids grew up and became parents. Some got involved in politics, and some worked government jobs, and in time, public skateparks opened all over the country. At the same time, many skateboard schools and shops began to open. Now, skateboarding is seen as a sport the whole family can enjoy, and it has taken root in every region of Japan. 21st century skaters view skateboarding as a sport that is enjoyed at the park, and minding their manners comes naturally to them.

The Olympics and the Arrival of New Skating Heroes

With skateparks now available all over Japan, the 1990s street generation began bringing their children out to play. Back in the day, the street generation didn’t wear safety gear and experienced a lot of injuries as a result. Now, many families enjoy the skatepark together, and parents make sure their children are wearing the proper safety gear. Many parents were surprised to find that their young kids, both boys and girls, were able to get the hang of skateboarding quickly. This is because most of those parents had to teach themselves in places that weren’t meant for skateboarding. They realized that if you start kids from 3 to 5 years old, show them proper skateboarding technique, and let them practice at well-maintained skateparks, they can master the skill much faster than anyone thought.

As a result, the competitive field grew, and soon some Japanese skaters began participating in international competitions. Then, in 2015, skateboarding was added to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the year after that it was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

While it may be surprising that the first ever Olympic skateboarding competition was held in Tokyo, the performance delivered by the Japanese team was even more surprising. In the men's street event, Yuto Horigome won the gold medal. In the women's street event, Momiji Nishiya won the gold medal, and Funa Nakayama won the bronze medal. In the women's park event, Sakura Yosozumi won the gold medal, and Cocona Hiraki, the youngest Japanese athlete to ever compete, won a silver medal at age 12. This feels like the result of a foundation that has made it possible for families to enjoy skateboarding together.

Japanese Skateparks Where Kids Take Center Stage

One of the big differences between skateboarding in Japan and other countries is that Japan has many tournaments focused on kids. Tournaments are held in various cities around Japan where kids can show off their skills. There are also many good schools and coaches. Elementary school kids are the most common at these skate schools, but kids can begin learning from as early as preschool. Nowadays, many kids decide they want to try skateboarding even if their parents have never done it. By practicing from a young age, even small schools are turning out famous skaters, and the number of kids enjoying skateboarding is increasing. Skateparks are now known as a place for the whole family to have fun.

The new generation of skaters today does not think it is cool to cause trouble and bother other people. By moving from the streets and setting up in parks, a place was created where people could have fun and be safe. Because there are no dangerous obstacles in these well-kept skateparks, everyone is free to skate to their heart’s content. And with special areas just for beginners, newcomers can learn not just rules and manners, but also the importance of kindness and consideration for each other. As a result, talented young skaters are being born all the time in Japan. Thanks to Japanese skateparks, people can experience the fun of skateboarding and the importance of rules and manners.