Damn Am Japan 2023: Men's Finals Photos

Daisuke Hayakawa

Welcome to the finals! That's our friend Daisuke, Japan's Olympic Skate coach, in the middle. Daisuke is the dude that made Damn Am Japan happen.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Murakami Skatepark

This is a look at the Murakami City Skatepark from the outside. Beautiful facility they have there!
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Murakami Skatepark

This pop up van was super rad. Delicious food throughout their patio.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Murakami Skatepark

Ramen to go!
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Raimu Sasaki

Time to setup a new deck. The Damn Am Japan Men's Finals are underway
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Aimu takes it all the way around with his beautiful fullcab. You have to see it to believe it.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Fakie 5-0 down the rail into the bank every try? No problem for Aimu!
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Wait we are heading back up the rail. Front crook this time.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Momohei Yabushita

Momohei showing off why he deserves to be here with a fat kickflip front board.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kai Suematsu

Kai Suematsu with that picture perfect nollie flip over the bump to bump
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Murakami Skatepark

The stands at Murakami City Skatepark were full
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Raito Nema

Switch heel from the speed demon Raito Nema
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Tokiya Imamura

Another hardflip from Tokiya Inamura
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Tokiya Imamura

The homies loved it!
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Frank Branca

Frank the tank. Frank Branca getting those premium rafter angles for the finals SPoT Life. Watch it here: Damn Am Japan 2023 Finals: Presented by Cariuma– SPoT Life
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Ryoga Murakami

I decided to copy Frank and get some shots from up top. Love the contrast on these.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Tokiya Imamura

Noseblunt from Tokiya
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Sena Watanabe

Here's one you don't see every day: varial heel backlip from Sena
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Monster Energy

Quick Monster break. Thanks for the energy to get through my 8th day of jet lag!
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Raimu Abe

Raimu Abe taking this kickflip high enough to hit another rail before landing in a front lipslide.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Momohei Yabushita

Momohei follows him up with a hardflip into his backlip.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Takumi Koyanagi

Takumi with the signature front bluntslide down the hubba. That thing is locked and loaded with steeze
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kikujiro Nakamura

Kikujiro really wanted his back heels to be as close to this hubba as possible. Just go over it dude!
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Everyone was busting out the nollies on this one. Nollie front blunt from Aimu
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Back Bennett grind with a pop out
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

It's not fair how good Aimu is at varial heels. They're spring loaded
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kairi Matsumoto

Kairi Matsumoto opens his wings for takeoff on this back overcrook on the a-frame
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kairi Matsumoto

Kairi's signature kickflip backtail never fails him.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Taisei Hamamura

Just like Taisei's crook nollie flip never fails him. I can't wait until he starts to nollie into these things.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Raimu Sasaki

Another crook nollie flip, but Raimu's this time around. I think that was his 5th board of the week.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kento Urano

I don't know how to take a photo of this one. Inward heel tailslide bigspin out from Kento
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Sena Watanabe

Sena closing out semi-finals with a heelflip front blunt
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Murakami Skatepark

Break time! Man look at all those boards.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Derick Glancy

Paul put down 10,000 Yen on whoever could make it the farthest. Sam having a breakdown before he outdid Glancy.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Murakami Skatepark

These kids were adorable.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Luca Hirata

Alright let's wax this thing up and start the finals.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Another angle of Aimu's back Bennett grind. It was SO good!
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Sena Watanabe

Time for a rail sesh. Heelflip front blunt from Sena
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Toa Sasaki

This one is tied for first in favorite photos from the weekend. Got under the power of Toa's cab back noseblunt
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

DJ Wade

These dudes look dusted! Let's get some sleep after this one
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Hozumi Kai

Hozumi Kai biggerflip front board. Sheesh
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Luca Hirata

Luca could do these every try which I suppose is why he made the finals. Switch frontside flip.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Aimu tre flip catch on his way into the bank
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Hozumi Kai

Hozumi heads down the set with a frontside flip
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kento Urano

These guys are pretty good. Maybe they're discussing how they are planning on taking the top two spots of the finals.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Taiga Nagai

Not Taiga again! The back 180 nosegrind.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Raimu Abe leaning his way into a front noseblunt.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Momohei Yabushita

Momohei fully extended kickflip front 50 down the hubba.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Aimu Yamazuki

Another angle of that perfect pinch. Front crook from Aimu
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Tokiya Imamura

No idea how Tokiya pulled this one off, but this is moments before he landed a hardflip.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kento Urano

Switch 270 front board from Kento Urano.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kento Urano

This is when he sealed the deal for first place. Kickflip back crook down the center piece from Kento Urano.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Toa Sasaki

You know that Toa had to bring the cab back noseblunt to the finals. Imagine that down Hollywood High!
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Uncle Sam Bellipanni

I'd hate to be these guys after watching this skating. The judges with their final deliberations.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail

Kento Urano

Congratulations Kento! We're off to the Netherlands.
Date: June 15, 2023
Photographer: Matt Shail