Damn Am Japan 2022: Qualifiers Photos

Toa Sasaki

Toa Sasaki didn't have to warm up much. He was always turned on. Hardflip back lip out the gate like nothin'!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kairi Matsumoto

Kairi Matsumoto backs up Toa with a kicky backlippy
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kairi Matsumoto

...then proceeds to back up himself with a beautiful kickflip back tail down the hubba. He had these dialed all weekend!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Yuki Sawashima

Yuki Sawashima droppin buckets with the hat to match. Nollie back noseslide.
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Ichika Konishi

Ichika and friends watching the Qualifiers
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Men's top Qualifier Aumi Yamazuki had a smile on his face during his entire run - you can tell the kid loves skateboarding. 180 switch crooks to kick off his run.
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Aimu might actually own the varial heel. Is there a way to find that out? Does someone have the skateboarding manual somewhere?
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

He did varial heel back nosegrind MID CONTEST RUN. And it was balanced!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Haru Urano

Haru Urano with a 180 switch back feeble.
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Nollie bigspin from Aimu just for funsies
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Momohei Yabushita

One of the contest favorites, Momohei Yabushita, whips a hardflip over the bank to bank for the judges.
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Who Dat?

I'm not sure who this guy was but there were mad filmers out here for the Japanese skate scene!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kikujiro Nakamura

Kickflip front noseslide from Kikujiro Nakamura on the bump to ledge
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Taiyo Ishii

Taiyo Ishii is one of my favorites from the weekend. It's hard to stick out in a sea of dialed Japanese skaters - Taiyo brought the style and trick selection to make a name for himself!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Junnosuke Hasegawa

Glancy in the back like: "No way is Junnosuke about to catch this beautifully tweaked frontside flip!"
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Junnosuke Hasegawa

One of the most popular tricks and hardest to shoot - cab back lip from Junnosuke
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

More homies watching the homies!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Junnosuke Hasegawa

Junnosuke dappin' up the homies after a flawless Qualifiers run
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Uncle Sam Bellipanni

Sam Bellipanni is SPoT's Jesus and here is the proof!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Ren Saitou

I wanna fly like an eagle / To the sea / Fly like an eagle, let Ren Saitou's back blunt carry me
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Jinto Shimizu

Jinto Shimizu puts the pressure in pressure flip down the set
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Tatsuma Masuda

Tatsuma was the only dude out here that was willing (and wanting) to do suicide grinds on this hubba. This isn't a suicide grind, but it is a fakie 50-50 which I know was NOT easy
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Daiki Ikeda

Two time Damn Am winner Daiki Ikeda keeping his eye on the competition
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Sena Watanabe

Sena Watanabe? More like Sena want ta be doin' heelflips into front lips!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Rio Yashima

Look how tweaked Rio's front noseblunt is!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Daiki Ikeda

Another angle of Daiki's kickflip front blunt
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Murakami Skatepark

We had family and friends of all ages hanging out with us all weekend!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Daisuke Hayakawa

Our friend Daisuke Hayakawa brought his family out and I think I shot a magazine style ad with them on accident
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aoi Ishimaru

Exchanging IG handles and air dropping clips on the sidelines!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Rino Hoshino

Women's Qualifiers had some new faces and Rino Hoshino was one of them. She is 11 years old and skated with absolutely no fear. It was an incredible sight to see!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Ria Tanno

Boardslide in da braids from another 11 year old, Ria Tanno
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Nonoka Nakajima

Nonoka takes us over to the handrail with a front lip
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Rino Hoshino

Rino took a spill and was down for a second. Luckily Daisuke was there to help her get back up!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Yui Harada

Yui ought to see Yui Harada's kickflip front board
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Koharu Satou

Koharu Satou's pop shuv down the set like nothin'
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Murakami Skatepark

Another photographer homie on the course with us. Whattup!!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aoi Ishimaru

Caught Aoi mid blink with the girls in between runs
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Miyuu Ito

Miyuu came out swingin' and finished 1st in the Qualifiers. Back crook down the hubba
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Miyuu Ito

Backsmith as the cherry on top to end Miyuu's run
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Niko Sugimoto

One of the least skated obstacles on the course and you can see why. Front board from Niko Sugimoto into the bank
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Paul Zitzer

Paul Zitzer on the mic with Akio Homma, the owner of Instant Skateshop which is the largest chain of shops in Japan
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aoi Fukuda

Aoi Fukuda had no problem getting the speed to get this bump to crook. You gotta push all the way from the other side of the course to get this one!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Nanami Oonishi

Cross locked back 50 from Nanmi Oonishi
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Mao Sato

Mao Sato was killing it with the front salads. I wish people did these more often!!
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Nonoka Nakajima

Nonoko kickflip front board in the limelight
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aoi Ishimaru

Aoi Ishimaru full speed switch flip on the euro. This was my favorite obstacle to skate at the park. I promise that has nothing to do with me being 33 and this being a safe bet
Date: September 27, 2022
Photographer: Matt Shail