Taking the Japanese Skate World By Storm

In just a few months, the 2020 Olympic Games will take place in Tokyo, Japan. For the first time in Olympic history, skateboarding is set to make its debut. Featuring Men and Women’s Street skateboarding, as well as Men and Women’s Park skateboarding, some of the best skateboarders in the world will be skating for Olympic glory.

There will be 20 skaters per event, which means only 80 skateboarders will have the opportunity to represent their countries and compete in these upcoming Olympics. The events for the Olympics include both Park skating and Street skating.

The journey to earn a spot at the Olympics has not been easy for these skateboarders. It all comes down to where they are ranked in the Olympic World Skateboarding Ranking. In order to score points towards their Olympic World Skateboarding Ranking, the skaters have been competing in a series of Olympic qualifying events. 

The first qualifying season started in January 2019 and continued until the 30th of September, 2019. The second qualifying season began on October 1st, 2019, and will continue until May 31st, 2020. By the middle of June 2020, the first-ever Skateboarding Olympians will be determined and set to compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Aori Nishimura

As you’ve probably seen, we’ve been covering a variety of different skateboarders here on the blog. One skateboarder in particular that Braille Skateboarding has been watching is Tokyo’s own women’s street skater, Aori Nishimura.

This Japanese skateboarder has been killing it in the Women’s Street Olympic qualifying events. She continues to prove why she is one of the very best in the world. This blog will shine a light on Aori Nishimura and her successful skateboarding career. We’ll take a look at some of her notable contest results, her sponsors and more, so be sure to continue reading to find out all there is to know about this future Skate Olympian!

Who is Aori Nishimura?

Aori Nishimura is a regular-footed Japanese professional skateboarder, born on July 31, 2001, in Tokyo, Japan. Aori started skating when she was just eight years old. Her father used to skate and had a skateboard lying around at home, so she picked it up. The moment Aori picked up that board, she was hooked and has been skating ever since.

Aori grew up skating around her house in Tokyo alongside her sisters, Sana and Kotone Nishimura, and they quickly progressed together. It is seemingly very helpful when you have your whole family learning and supporting you the entire way!

Aori Nishimura has been competing since 2016, which means she was only 15 when she competed in her first competition. In November of that same year, she took first place at the Asian Skateboarding Championships Women’s Street Finals. Since then, she’s been progressing and getting even better. Here are a couple of her contest results.

• SLS World Championships Finals, Sao Paulo Finals (3rd Place)
• X Games Norway (1st Place)
• Dew Tour Long Beach Women’s Street Finals (6th Place)

Aori Nishimura is also the first Japanese skater to win gold at the X-Games when she competed at X Games Minneapolis Women’s Street Finals in July of 2017. Aori has since gone on to win  many more skateboarding contests and even has a Street League World Championship under her belt. So, needless to say, she’s been very busy!

Aori Nishimura in 2020

Aori Nishimura is now a member of the Japanese National Skateboarding team. She is currently ranked third in the Olympic World Skateboarding Ranking for the Women’s Street discipline with 89,600 points. Some of Aori Nishimura’s sponsors include Deathwish, Nike SB, Shake Junt, Oakley and Coca-Cola.

Most recently, Aori Nishimura competed in November, 2019, at the World Skate Oi STU Open in Brazil. She earned herself 3rd place in the Women’s Street Finals which added 14,400 points toward her ranking. In September 2019, Aori managed to get a 2nd place finish at the International Skateboarding Open Henan Women’s Street Finals.

As far as recent video parts go, Aori Nishimura was featured in Nike SB’s “GIZMO”, which dropped in May of 2019. GIZMO is Nike SB’s first all-women’s skate video and pays homage to Elissa Steamer. The incredible skateboarding in this video gives us some insight into the future of women’s street skateboarding.

The video was directed by Jason Hernandez with assistance from Tyler Smolinski and features some big names:

• Aori Nishimura
• Rayssa Leal
• Leo Baker
• Leticia Bufoni
• Hayley Wilson
• Sarah Meurle
• Josie Millard
• Nicole Hause
• Elissa “Gizmo” Steamer

Check out the full video part here!

Video Highlights

On top of the above video part, check out a couple of the videos below to see her skate. You’ll be able to really see what she’s capable of, and it’s quite impressive!

Crazy right? She’s definitely very talented on a board and we can’t wait to see where the sport takes her!

In Conclusion

Whether you’ve heard of her or not, now’s the time to keep an eye on Aori Nishimura. We can’t wait to see what she has in store for the Olympics.

Though most of us will simply be watching the Olympics, Braille Skateboarding knows that some of you dream of competing at the Olympics one day. We can help you achieve that goal! Check out Skateboarding Made Simple in our Online Shop.

It’s the most detailed lesson plan for skateboarding in existence, and you will surely improve your skills after watching and studying our SMS tutorials. With 9 different volumes, you’ll go from learning how to ride on a board, to skating skateparks and landing more advanced flatground tricks…FIRST TRY! Now get out there and skate!

Feature Image Credit: X Games