Damn Am Japan 2022: Practice Photos

DJ Wade

It's always a good time when DJ Wade is tagging along. Smiles all around!
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Obligatory Murakami City Skatepark photo
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

The Murakami City Skatepark is an olympic training facility. They're got everything here from rock climbing to tight rope walking. How long could you balance on this thing?
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

If you don't have the balance you can hop on over to something a little more up to your speed.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Sena Watanabe

Sena kicking off practice with a heelflip front lip. That's right. A heelflip into a front lipslide.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Taiga Nagai

Taiga Nagia warms up with a casual front blunt.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Taiga Nagai

Followed by a cab back overcrook. Is that what that is called? Is the internet going to be pissed at me for calling it that?
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Daiki Ikeda

We've got kids from all over Japan showing up. There's our good friend Daiki up on the deck!
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Derick Glancy

Don't be fooled. Glancy stole all of that Yen out of the registration bag! Maybe if you toss him a few Yen he will take a better head shot photo of you.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Uncle Sam Bellipanni

Drop by and see Sam, Toshi, and Glancy to get registered for the contest. These guys will make it painless!
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Niko Sugimoto

The best part about Japan's scene is that there are a ton of women skaters - and they're all REALLY good. Here's Niko Sugimoto front lipping down the handrail with ease.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Daiki Ikeda

There he is. Two time Damn Am winner Daiki Ikeda! Kickflip front blunt on lock.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Ichika Konishi

Ichika is one of the youngest kids at the contest - weighing in at 10 years old! This kickflip backlip was first try.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Ichika Konishi

Believe it or not, this is after catching a backside flip. Joetaro has them DIALED. It's absolutely insane to see.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kai Suematsu

One of my favorite photos of the day. Nollie backside flip from Kai Suematsu
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

DJ Wade

Glancy, Akio, and DJ Wade holding it down at the DJ table.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Chris Blake

Chris Blake made it out to Japan with us. He'll be one of our judges for the contest alongside Glancy and our new homie Rob!
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Front crook up the rail from Aimu Yamazuki
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Families and fans camping out in the stands watching all the insane skateboarding going down!
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kairi Matsumoto

Kairi hops in the mix and throws a first try flick back tail down the hubba. Not sure I need to mention that it was first try because pretty much every single photo I shot during practice was of a trick being done first try.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Yui Harada

Yui Harada kickflip front board with ease
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Derick Glancy

Our boy Glancy just couldn't sit still at registration. No warm up crook up the rail.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Always have to include one artsy photo in my blog posts. Tre flip silhouette shot.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Sena Watanabe

Sena Watanabe owns the heelflip in every variation. Back heel down the set.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Toa Sasaki

This is the moment a kickflip was caught right before going into a noseblunt. What are these kids eating out here in Japan!?
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Daisuke Hayakawa

Two of Japan's finest helped us make Damn Am happen at Murakami Skatepark. Daisuke Hayakawa (left) is the Japanese Olympic coach and Akio Honma (right) is the owner of Insant which is the largest skate shop in Japan!
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Seto Kitano

Seto Kitano throws a front feeble down the handrail during Women's Practice. Excited to see how the Women's Qualifiers plays out!
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Seto Kitano

Seto can front feeble really well. As pictured above.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aoi Ishimaru

Aoi Ishimaru back board into the bank. It's really hard to take a photo that does this rail justice. You're flying at this thing and going into practice traffic.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aoi Ishimaru

Aoi checking in with the girls to make sure they got the clip
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Joetaro Saito

Is it obvious which obstacle is the favorite? Joetaro sends out a reminder with this kickflip backlip down the rail.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Ren Suematsu

We are going to need to stop by the store and grab a bag of chips for the amount of dip Ren Suematsu put on this backsmith.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kaede Terauchi

Kaede showing us that the rail and hubba in the center aren't the only obstacles. Gap back tail
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Sena Watanabe

Another angle of that infamous Sena back heel
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Niko Sugimoto

Niko Sugimoto looking to get in on the heelflip action. Bank to bank bolts perfection
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Hozumi Kai

Hozumi Kai goes fakie with a halfcab heel down the set.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Joetaro Saito

Let's keep the fakie stuff going. Joetaro halfcab flip tweaked
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Daiki Ikeda

Daiki adding to the fakie mix with his dialed fakie frontside flip.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Hozumi Kai

Hozumi Kai? More like Hozumi Can back 180 nosegrind like nobody's business.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Jinto Shimizu

This varial flip had pressure involved and Jinto brought it.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Hozumi Kai

Hozumi Kai tre flip front board. I am pretty sure the Japanese own that trick. Nobody else can do it AND make it look this good!
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Paul Zitzer

The man, the myth, the LEGEND. Paul Zitzer posted up in the media room making sure this contest is as organized as possible.
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Paul Zitzer

Paul isn't actually working though. He was keeping an eye on our snacks!
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kanade Nishiyama

Kanade Nishiyama gets in on the session with some hardflip perfection
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Raimu Sasaki

The homies watching the homies
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kanade Nishiyama

Closing out the session with a backside flip from Kanade. See you all at Qualifiers and Best Trick Saturday!
Date: September 23, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail