About “REAL DEAL”
VISION OF NPO REAL DEAL
Skateboarding, which was introduced as a part of street culture from the US and spread to Japan in the 1970s, has been attracting attention as it’s set to be an official sport in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The number of skateboarders in Japan is estimated to be from tens of thousands to millions. In the Kanagawa area, which is said to have more skateboarders than any other area due to its surfing culture, skateboarding is becoming popular as a sport that can be enjoyed by a wide range of age groups, with not only teenagers but also parents up to their 50s with their children.
In the US, being a pro skater is a well-known profession that many children dream about, just like being an athlete in the NBA or NFL. There are a number of competitions such as “X Games” – the highest peak of extreme sports. If you leave a good record in one of them, you may get sponsored and become one of the many successful pro skaters.
However, only a handful of skateboarders can actually earn a living from skateboarding in Japan, which is currently not considered to be a real profession.
With skateboarding becoming an official Olympic sport, the movement of skateboards has greatly expanded to the younger generation. However, for it to become a sport that kids would yearn and aspire for like baseball and soccer and not just another fad, the industry still faces many challenges with the need to create an environment that provides places for them to skateboard nearby.
Since providing guidance and a place to enjoy sports is indispensable for reviving the local sport and for the healthy development of children, we believe that we can contribute to the revitalization of the industry through live interactions with skateboards. With local skateboarders such as ex-pro skaters, we have started running skateboarding schools since 2008 via events in Yokohama and more as part of our volunteering initiative.
Through these events, we hope to support as many aspiring children as possible to acquire the skills and improve competitively so that they can realize their dreams to be a pro athlete, hence why we started RealDeal.
In the future, we believe that further expansion and development of events, including international exchange, will contribute to the healthy development of youth and to the community.
Real Deal non Profit Organization