Boasting one of the world's oldest populations, cleanest streets and a reputation for following the rules, Japan might not immediately stand out as a skater's paradise.
But as events in Paris this week once again demonstrated, Japanese teenagers are crazy about women's skating.
The Japanese team has won the street events at two consecutive Olympic Games and could achieve the same result in the park division, which begins on August 6th.
The rise of skateboarding in Japan is surprising in a country that generally frowns on skaters performing in public.
Skating is prohibited by law in high-traffic areas and is mostly restricted to skateparks, making it difficult for aspiring skaters to practice outside of designated areas.
Add to this the problem of Japan's ageing population (Japan's birth rate is expected to hit a record low in 2023), and most sports will likely experience a massive decline.
But its inclusion in the Olympics has revitalized youth exposure and resources: Since 2021, the number of skateparks in the country has nearly doubled to 475, according to the Japan Skatepark Association. And after another impressive medal haul, there may be room for further growth.
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