From Nagai Park to the World Stage
A former winner went on to become world No. 2. Now WAKU WAKU CUP returns to Nagai Park for Vol.3, giving spectators another close-up look at Japan’s competitive street-skateboarding scene.
Two years ago, 14-year-old Nanami Onishi won the women’s division of a small new skateboard competition at Nagai Park. She has since represented Japan internationally and, in 2026, took silver at the World Street Championship in São Paulo and climbed to No. 2 in the world rankings. That makes the third WAKU WAKU CUP on October 24, 2026 considerably more intriguing: the next skater to move onto a much bigger stage might already be rolling through Nagai.
WAKU WAKU CUP was launched in 2024 by Wakuwaku Park Create, the company that manages Nagai Park, working with the crew at TigerRack Skateboard Park Nagai. The inaugural competition brought together 20 invited skaters and awarded ¥610,000 in prize money. By 2025, the event had evolved into a competition for skaters who had advanced through qualifying.
Onishi provides the clearest evidence that this relatively intimate competition can attract serious talent, but the inaugural field had bench strength. Men’s runner-up Shu Umeo has continued to rise through the Kansai skate scene and was named among the demonstration riders for SONIC CUP 2026 alongside Paris Olympians Yuro Nagahara and Hinano Kusaki. Women’s third-place finisher Asato Kitano has competed in Japan Street League, one of the country’s major domestic skateboarding competitions. WAKU WAKU CUP may be small enough to watch from the edge of the course, but its early results suggest the names on the start list are worth remembering.
You don’t need to know a kickflip from a boardslide to follow the competition. This year, men and women compete together under street rules combining two 50-second runs with five best-trick attempts. Judges count the stronger run together with the two highest-scoring tricks, rewarding both the ability to put together a complete ride and the nerve to land something ambitious one attempt at a time. The three highest combined scores take the podium.
Vol.3 runs from 9:30–18:00 on October 24, turning WAKU WAKU CUP into an all-day opportunity to drop into Nagai Park and see competitive street skating from just a few meters away. The competition is cancelled in case of rain. The 2026 competitor field and prize purse have not yet been announced.
Future Stars — Past WAKU WAKU competitors include riders who have gone on to national and international competition.
Up Close — Watch street skateboarding from immediately around TigerRack Skateboard Park Nagai’s compact outdoor course.
Runs & Best Tricks — Previous editions combined 50-second runs with individual attempts at higher-risk tricks.
All-Day Skate Session — Previous editions ran from morning into the evening, giving spectators plenty of opportunities to drop in and watch.
Free to Watch — Spectating has been free at previous editions, putting serious competitive skateboarding within easy reach of curious newcomers as well as fans.
Photos: Waku Waku Cup, Japan Scenes
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Opening Hours
THE SCENE: FAQ’s
ACCESS
Venue
TigerRack Skateboard Park Nagai
Address
1-1 Nagaikoen, Higashisumiyoshi Ward, Osaka
Trains
JR Hanwa Line → Tsurugaoka Station
Subways
Metro Midosuji Line → Nagai Station
Walking Directions
From Nagai Station, enter Nagai Park and follow the park paths toward TigerRack Skateboard Park Nagai. From Tsurugaoka Station, the skatepark is reached through the northern side of Nagai Park.
◷ FROM CENTRAL OSAKA
From Namba — about 25–30 minutes
Take the Metro Midosuji Line directly to Nagai Station, then walk through Nagai Park to TigerRack Skateboard Park Nagai.
From Osaka-Umeda — about 35–40 minutes
Take the Metro Midosuji Line directly from Umeda to Nagai Station, then walk through Nagai Park to the skatepark.
SCHEDULE
Dates & Hours
Saturday, October 24, 2026
9:30–18:00
Competition Format
Men and women compete together in 2026.
Each skater receives two 50-second runs and five best-trick attempts. The higher-scoring run and two highest-scoring best tricks are combined for the final score.
The three highest overall scores take the podium.
Competitor Field
The 2026 competitor lineup has not yet been announced.
Notes
The competition will be cancelled in case of rain.
TICKETS
Spectators are invited to watch WAKU WAKU CUP at TigerRack Skateboard Park Nagai.
Previous editions were free to watch. The organizer has not yet published separate spectator admission information for the 2026 competition.
No spectator ticket or reservation information has been announced.
THE EXPERIENCE
WAKU WAKU CUP puts spectators immediately around Nagai Park’s compact street-skateboarding course, making this a particularly approachable way to see competitive skating even if you don’t follow the sport.
- Watch riders put together complete 50-second runs across the street course.
- See five best-trick attempts give skaters a chance to take bigger risks one trick at a time.
- Follow a mixed-gender leaderboard, with the three highest combined scores reaching the podium.
- Stand close to the course rather than watching from distant arena seating.
- Explore Nagai Park between rounds, with lawns, sports facilities, restaurants and other recreation surrounding the skatepark.
Previous WAKU WAKU fields have included young skaters who went on to compete at much higher levels, so keep an eye on the names as well as the tricks.
INFO & TIPS
Come and Go
WAKU WAKU CUP runs from 9:30–18:00, so visitors do not necessarily need to arrive for the morning start. The detailed 2026 competition timetable will help identify the best time to watch once it is released.
Make a Day of Nagai Park
There’s plenty to do between competition rounds. Nagai Park has restaurants and cafés, broad lawns and recreation areas, while the adjacent Nagai Botanical Garden and Osaka Museum of Natural History can turn a few hours of skateboarding into a full day out. The park is also large enough to simply grab something to eat and take a break before returning for more of the competition.
Weather
The competition is outdoors and will be cancelled in case of rain.
No Skate Knowledge Required
Runs reward a skater’s ability to put together a complete ride, while the best-trick portion gives competitors individual attempts at more ambitious tricks. The combined scoring makes the competition relatively easy to follow even for first-time spectators.
Another Nagai Weekend
Cerezo Osaka plays JEF United Chiba at YANMAR HANASAKA STADIUM in Nagai Park the following afternoon, October 25 at 15:00.
Check for Updates
The competitor field, prize purse and additional 2026 information are still to come. Nagai Park’s official channels are currently the best source for new announcements.
Wakuwaku Park Create / Nagai Park
Telephone: 06-6694-9007
https://nagaipark.com/