Breaking
This year, the Red Bull BC One World Final returns to Japan for the third time and in celebration we rundown some of the history-making world final moments achieved by Japanese breakers.
On Sunday November 9, 2025, the 22nd edition of the Red Bull BC One World Final will take place in Tokyo, Japan. This is the third time Japan will host the world final of breaking's biggest contest, following Tokyo in 2010 and Nagoya in 2016. Want join the action? Grab your tickets now.
Japan has long been a powerhouse in breaking, known for consistently producing b-boys and b-girls with high calibre skills. World renowned Japanese breakers include B-Boys Kazuhiro, Katsu One, Taisuke, Red Bull BC One Champion Shigekix, B-Girls Shi-Chan, Narumi, Ayumi, Yasmin and two-time Red Bull BC One champion Ami. Well known, top-level crews who have come out of Japan over the years include Mortal Kombat, All-Area, Floorriorz, Foundnation and Body Carnival.
So, in celebration of the Japanese breaking scene, we're looking back at the history-making moments, notable achievements and cultural spirit of Japan and its breakers.
01
The youngest b-boy to win the Red Bull BC One World Final is Japanese
In 2016 Japan got its first Red Bull BC One world champion, when B-Boy Issei won the world final in Nagoya in front of his home crowd. Issei was 19-years-old at the time, making him the youngest b-boy to ever win the world final.
Four years later, in 2020, B-Boy Shigekix became the second Japanese breaker to win the Red Bull BC One World Final. He was 18-years-old, one year younger than Issei when he won, so set a new record as the youngest b-boy to become a Red Bull BC One champion.
02
The first b-girl to compete at the World Final is from Japan
In 2017 Japan’s B-Girl Ayumi made history when she became the first ever to receive a wild card and compete in the Red Bull BC One World Final competition, leading the way for all the b-girls who now battle every year in the world final competition.
03
Ami was the first ever Red Bull BC One B-Girl champion
The Red Bull BC One World Final B-Girl competition debuted in 2018 and it was Japan’s B-Girl Ami who made history as the first ever Red Bull BC One B-Girl champion.
Also notable was that three of the four b-girls in the semi-finals that debut year were Japanese: Ami, Ayumi and Narumi. The only other b-girl left competing was San Andrea from France. Ami won her second world final title in 2023, joining a prestigious group of multi-time Red Bull BC One champions.
04
The first siblings to compete at the world final were Japanese
Japan holds two notable, historical moments here. The first was in 2018 when sisters Ayumi and Narumi both competed in the first Red Bull BC One b-girl battle, making them the first siblings to ever compete in the same world final competition.
The second was in 2020, when Shigekix won the world final b-boy competition. His older sister, B-Girl Ayane also competed in the world final b-girl battle that year, making it to the semi-finals, marking the first time a brother and sister competed at the same world final.
05
Last Chance Cypher debut and achievements
The first ever Last Chance Cypher competition took place at the 2016 Red Bull BC One World Final, in Nagoya. Now, the yearly competition that sees all the national b-boy and b-girl cypher winners compete for the open spots in the world final line up. Japan’s cypher winners have won the LCC three times: B-Boy Nori won it in 2019 and 2021, while B-Girl Ayumi won the b-girl LCC in 2021 as well.
06
Japan's history-making gold and bronze medal collection
When breaking made its debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics, B-Girl Ami made sporting history when she took the gold medal for Japan. That win made Ami the first and, right now, only b-girl in history to win a Summer Games gold medal.
Six years earlier breaking made its debut at the 2018 Youth Games in Argentina. There, Japanese breakers took home two gold medals and one bronze. B-Girl Ram achieved the two gold medals, winning the solo b-girl competition to make history as the first ever Youth Games solo b-girl champion, and then also winning gold in the 2vs2 Bonnie and Clyde (one b-boy and one b-girl team) competition. The bronze medal for Japan was won by B-Boy Shigekix when he took third place in the solo b-boy competition.
07
‘Shokunin spirit' behind the excellence in the Japanese dance scene
B-Boy Shigekix has attributed Japan’s consistent high-level in breaking to the Japanese, cultural way of life called 'Shokunin spirit', which is defined as the Japanese way of honing ones craft and perfecting every aspect of what you do. Relating this spirit to breaking, Shigekix said: "when you dance, it's not just about dancing, it's more about always thinking about how to master something."
Shokunin spirit is something that's ingrained in Japanese culture as a whole, resulting in people becoming immersed in the thing they love doing and practising with a strong sense of craftsmanship and focus. This spirit is seen in the fact that many Japanese breakers will work all day and then practice late into the night. For example, B-Girl Ami said: "when I was a student I would go to school, then my part-time job and then practice at midnight." Shigekix also trains seven days a week, twice a day, for 5 to 6 hours of training.
Find out more about the Shokunin spirit in Breaking Beyond: Tokyo:
08
Japan's new generation of breakers continuing the legacy
Every few years, the new generation of b-boys and b-girls emerges from Japan and continue to demonstrate the undeniable talent the Japanese scene has. Right now, some of the young Japanese breakers stamping their name on the worldwide map include B-Boys Issin and Hiro10, and B-Girl Riko, all of whom have already battled as wildcards on the Red Bull BC One World Final stage. There's also b-boys Tsukki and Ra1on, and B-Girl Nanoha, who are all representing Japan with their dynamic styles, high-level skills and presence all around the world.
09
The 2025 Red Bull BC One World Final in Japan
Tokyo’s iconic Ryogoku Kokugikan arena will be where the 2025 Red Bull BC One World Final takes place. With the inspiring energy of 'Shokunin spirit' in the air and the best b-boys and b-girls in the world battling it out for the most prestigious title in breaking, there's no doubt that more history will be made in Japan.
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