Surfing, Japan and the Olympic Games: How Kanoa Igarashi has come full circle

Hawaii is widely regarded as the birthplace of surfing, but it is Japan that will be remembered as the place where, after decades of trying, it became an Olympic sport.

Back in 1912 while receiving one of three swimming gold medals at the Stockholm Olympics, Hawaii’s Duke Kahanamoku spoke of his dream that one day surfing, his sport of choice, would be contested at the Games.

Surfing exploded in Australia after ‘the Duke’ visited in 1915, giving a famous demonstration of board riding at Freshwater Beach with local girl, Isabel Letham.

One hundred and six years later it is Australia that boasts more world surfing champions, men and women combined, than any other nation.

But when the surfers paddle out at Tsurigasaki Beach on the Chiba…