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X Games: Japan Showcases Skateboarding and BMX Talent in Osaka

Kairi Netsuke was victorious in the men's skateboard street final at Kyocera Dome. Yohei Uchino and Rim Nakamura triumphed in BMX events at the X Games Osaka.

by
Jim Armstrong
June 23, 2025

OSAKA ― Host Japan wrapped up a very successful X Games Osaka over the weekend with big wins in men's skateboard street and BMX Flatland.

In the men's skateboard street final on Sunday, June 22, 21-year-old Kairi Netsuke captured his first gold medal in the X Games.

Netsuke qualified third for the six-man final and used a superb first run in the final to score 92.33 points, taking advantage of a heelflip back tailslide to a bigspin on the rails.

Juni Kang of South Korea was second with 91.66 points and Ginwoo Onodera of Japan took the bronze with 90.66 points.

"It's my first gold medal and to do it here in Osaka is a real thrill," Netsuke said. "It was a very intense competition and I took advantage of my heel tricks, which are my specialty."

Uchino Leads a Japanese Sweep in BMX Flatland

Japan swept the podium in the men's BMX Flatland final on Sunday.

Yohei Uchino won the gold medal while Moto Sasaki earned the silver and Yu Katagiri took bronze.

"This is my third time taking part in the X Games. I was eliminated in the first round the first two times, so to win it here in Osaka is very satisfying," said Uchino, a 42-year-old native of Hyogo Prefecture.

Paris Olympian Rim Nakamura won Japan's first gold medal of the Osaka X Games when he took top honors in the men's BMX park on Saturday with 87.00 points.

"I hope young riders will be inspired by this medal," said the 23-year-old Nakamura, who captured his first X Games gold medal.

He added, "I started when I was 17 so I waited a long time for this."

Among the tricks Nakamura completed were a backflip barspin to barspin back combo, a flair no-hander and a 360 double downside tailwhip.

Marcus Christopher of the United States was second, followed by Paris Olympic freestyle bronze medalist Anthony Jeanjean of France.

Trew Sets a New Standard of Excellence

Also on Sunday, skateboardin g star Arisa Trew, who has roots in Japan, became the winningest female in X Games history on Sunday when she won the skateboard park event at the X Games Osaka for her seventh career gold medal in the action sports competition.

Trew, whose mother is Japanese and father is Welsh, impressed the crowd at Kyocera Dome with two monster runs in the park final.

The 15-year-old Australian took a comfortable lead after a score of 90.33 in her first run of the final and then sealed the win with 93.33 points in her second run.

Tokyo 2020 park gold medalist Sakura Yosozumi of Japan was second with 87.66 points while her compatriot Hinano Kusaki won the bronze with 85.66 points.

"My first run scored a 90 and I was really happy with that because I landed my melon five and a switch McTwist and that was really good for me," said Trew.

Added the Paris Olympic champion in park, "I was first when it came to my second run and on that run I scored a 93 with a melon five and a switch McTwist again."

Trew won the women's vert competition on Saturday, tying her with Leticia Bufoni for the most gold medals of any female skateboarder in X Games history. She went one better on Sunday.

"I'm really happy to be the woman with the most gold medals," Trew said. "I am always having fun and challenging myself."

Trew said the win on Sunday was extra special as her relatives from Gifu Prefecture, including her grandmother, came to watch her skate.

Author: Jim Armstrong

The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.