Stab Magazine | Tokyo Olympics Might Destroy Three Quality Japanese Waves

Live Now: Chapter 11 Mini-Documentary With Dane Reynolds

594 Views

Tokyo Olympics Might Destroy Three Quality Japanese Waves

They want surfing in the games but are willing to risk it at the same time?

news // Jul 7, 2016
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

The powerful and very active Japanese surfing community will be scrutinising government officials from now until the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after they were lumped with surprise plans for a mega-residential development and breakwater that will threaten three world class waves. The development, if it goes ahead, will house sailing athletes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games and include a 130 meter high hotel. Locals are worried it will destroy three of the country’s best waves as well as destroy the coastal environment relied upon for so many for their incomes.

Kotsubo is a quiet fishing village home to one of Japan’s best reef breaks. In total the development is said to place three top quality Japanese waves at risk; Osaki, Kabune, and Inamura.

Plans for the development were never officially released, but rather leaked to the public. Local residents and surfers reacted quickly circulating petitions to “Save Kutsobo’s environment” which soon went national. The plans have since disappeared from the public agenda though locals are worried with the amount of money and political weight behind it they will re-emerge down the track by which time nothing can be done to stop the development. 

The irony that Olympic officials are preparing to premier surfing to the world at the olympics while at the same time risking some of the country’s best waves is profound. An article from the December 2015 issue of The Surfer’s Journal Japanese Edition, written by local surfer Izawa San, was deeply critical of the plans, also questioning the wisdom of putting economic growth ahead of the environment and calling for surfers worldwide to protect their coastlines. 

“Now in 21st century, the amount of mistakes we have made in return for economic growth and development are uncountable. From past experiences, surfers know that those natures and waves endangered can never be what it used to be,” he wrote. 

“Today, living with nature is recognised as a new philosophy, contributing to the economy. It is perhaps our turn as surfers to spread the new concept of developing the areas without hurting the environment.”

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Watch: João Chianca Had A Remarkable Hawaii Season Before His Injury

Plus an update on his condition.

Mar 28, 2024

Pittar’d And Feathered

Do the WSL judges deserve the internet's wrath? We asked the man of the hour.

Mar 28, 2024

Robbo, Pickles, And Tyler Wright Become The Underdogs Breakfast At Uninspiring Winkipop

The foreboding blade sharpens and inconsistent judging prevails on Day Two in Torquay.

Mar 27, 2024

“I Don’t Always Win Heats, But When I Do, I Try To Beat John John”

Slater shines and the axe begins its descent on Day 01 at Bells.

Mar 26, 2024

Back Against The Wall: The Ramzi Boukhiam Redemption

Morocco's first CT surfer on speaking six languages, having no coach, and snatching Fil Toledo's…

Mar 25, 2024

Will Kirra, Babies or JJF Stop a GOAT Winning at Bells?

Bluesky BOAG advice from a Superman specialist and former Trials winner.

Mar 25, 2024

Bells Preview: The WSL’s Victorian Sword Dancing Equinox Ritual

Will a Brazilian crack the Top 10 at Bells?

Mar 25, 2024

69 Shin Bones Later + the Anticlimactic State of Big Wave Record-Breaking

Lucas Chumbo might have surfed the biggest wave ever this year. But how will we…

Mar 23, 2024

Watch: ‘Fresh and Fried’ Ft the Quik Kids

How taxing is it to tackle the Gold Coast’s Triple Crown in a single day,…

Mar 23, 2024

The Popular Vote: The People’s Stab In The Dark With Kolohe Andino Champion

Which board looked best — to you —under Kolohe's talons?

Mar 22, 2024

Six Key Learnings From Portugal

Three CT events in, what do we know? 

Mar 21, 2024

‘Zipper’ Is Going On Tour, Here’s Where You Can Watch It  

Dates, times + locations for the Venice, Encinitas, Sydney + Byron premieres.  

Mar 20, 2024

Dane Reynolds On His Future, His Past, And Chapter 11’s Raison D’être

Our 9-minute plunge into the collective psyche of Ventura's pillar(s).

Mar 20, 2024

From ‘Blue Ribbon Cross Country Runner’ to Vogue – How Steph Again Is Back With A Rip Curl Remix

Everything we know about the she-GOATs sponsorship boomerang.

Mar 18, 2024

Stab Interview: Darren Handley Explains Why You Can’t Buy The Winning Stab In The Dark Model

And his decades-long standoff with Slater.

Mar 17, 2024

Griff Embraces Portugal’s Eternal Time Loop To Vanquish Medina + Ewing, Defay Delays The Inevitable

A redeeming closing act at Supertubos.

Mar 16, 2024

The Secret Behind Lungi Slabb’s Inconceivable Greenmount Funnel

Six broken boards, one leaking forehead, and five days of Superbank mysticism.

Mar 16, 2024

Cheat Codes: A Million Miles Worth Of Travel Advice From Coco Ho

Hard-earned wisdom from more than 2,000 hours in the troposphere.

Mar 15, 2024
Advertisement