It's now been a year since you joined the international Starboard team. How do you feel when you look back on this year?
I'm really proud to be able to windsurf as a member of the team. Starboard has a great group of riders who are all at a very high level and I am inspired by them every day in training. Winning the Aloha Classic, which was one of my goals, was incredibly exciting and has given me a lot of confidence and valuable experience for future competitions.
You travelled a lot last year! How do you manage such a busy travel schedule? Do you normally travel alone?
This year I took part in competitions in Omaezaki in Japan, then in Chile, Pozo, Tenerife, Sylt and Maui. Travelling from Japan to these places is very time-consuming and expensive. I travelled with Takuma Sugi, another Japanese wave rider. His windsurfing level is extremely high and I have great respect for him. Travelling with him makes life on the road enjoyable and allows me to concentrate on the competition. The hardest thing about travelling is taking care of my health and balancing school. As I have to keep my training times abroad short in order to complete my degree, I often arrive just before the competitions. However, as I'll be graduating in 2025, I can now focus even more on windsurfing, which I'm really looking forward to.
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Can you tell us something about your setup? What do you currently have in your quiver?
Normally I ride a Starboard Ultra 72, but as a Japanese rider with less weight I sometimes use a 65-litre Custom Made, which I got for spots with strong winds like Pozo or Omaezaki. On Sylt, the wind was weaker and a bit offshore, so I used the Starboard Ultra 86 driven. In Maui I used the Hyper in 78 litres.
Congratulations on winning the Aloha Classic Pro Junior Division 2025! How did you feel when you won and how did you approach the competition?
I arrived in Maui straight after the competition on Sylt, so I had very little time to fine-tune my riding style. On the day of the competition, the conditions were good and I just concentrated on "riding my own style". I don't think I realised 100% of my potential, but I caught some good waves and that performance was enough to win. Honestly, I didn't think I would win and when I came back to shore and heard "Congratulations!" I was really happy and will never forget that moment.
What comes after the Aloha Classic? What are your goals and plans for 2026?
My biggest goal for 2026 is to win the world title in the Pro Junior class. I also want to reach the final in at least one professional competition. After I graduate, I will have more time to focus on windsurfing, so I want to improve even more. I'm strong downwind, especially at my home spot in Omaezaki, but I want to improve my other side, master moves like double loops and push forwards and perform at a high level in any wind direction. I will continue to train hard to compete with the world's best riders at the highest level!
The interview was made available to us by Starboard
