Skateboarding Japan: The Journey Continues in Sakura Sake Tour Ep. 3

Words by Josh Zickert

Several months prior to the April 2025 Sakura Sake Tour Patrik Wallner had linked me up with Japan’s Sennichiro Ozawa of the elite publication, The Skateboard Journal.  The goal was to figure out the ideal skate park to line up a proper demo.  Fabric Skate Shop owner & ripper Hedeika Kojima arranged an event at the famed Shin-yokohama park. After a healthy breakfast at the Sakura Hotel we cruised over to Tokyo Station and hopped on the JR East Line.

Toshi had given us the pin to a tight brick quarterpipe gem at Ishikawachō station. Richie & Caroline were able to get a couple successful hits before the security broke up the sesh.  The squad grabbed a bite to eat and 20 minutes later we rolled up to meet Kojima-san & the Fabric Crew!

All the Japanese skaters & bmx riders were shredding hard and extremely welcoming. The park was massive.  The transition zone was built perfectly, had a solid flow with proper pool coping, nice hips & a spine. Yiyo, Bonestalone, Caroline, JJ, Leo, Eugenia, Toshi, Richie & I all had a blast skating with our new friends. FIVE filmed the action while Rodrigo Cabrejas & Blair Alley snapped the flicks.

Before leaving to hit the streets we threw a best trick event for the younger kids with a ton of prizes to give out from Fabric, AZ, TransWorld & Natural Koncept. Wheels, boards, grip, t-shirts, sunglasses & a bunch of stickers were handed out.

Toshi knew of a beautiful round flat rail next to a range of Sakura’s in full blossom just a 10-minute skate from the park. Yiyo, Leo & Bonestalone took advantage of the golden hour with a range of tricks including back tails, feeble grinds and Smith grinds. Naturally as the session was in full sizzle mode the fuzz rolled up & advised us to keep it moving. Our third full day in Japan was nothing short of amazing. We got to explore Yokohama, also known as the “Philly of Japan.”

Later that evening Toshi & Kojima made a phone call & locked down another secret gem for us to skate. It was crazy. That footage will drop in Episode 4!

Related: The Sakura Sake Tour Continues Through Tokyo — Episode 2

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