Inspired by Olympics debut, Japan's seniors blaze breakdancing trail

Kiyoshie Saruwaka, 74, a member of Ara Style Senior — Japan's only breakdancing club made up of older citizens — practices a move known as "chair freeze" in Tokyo on April 26. | REUTERS

by CHANG-RAN KIM AND KYUNG HOON KIM
June 30, 2024

A 74-year-old surfer and master of classical Japanese dance may seem an unlikely member of a seniors' breakdancing group, but Kiyoshie Saruwaka said getting her feet wet in the sport was a no-brainer after it was confirmed for the 2024 Paris Games.

As a restless teenager, Saruwaka fell in love with surfing and had wondered why it wasn't an Olympic sport, until it finally got its place at Tokyo 2020.

"And now, breaking is going to be added in Paris, and Japan even has a gold medal candidate," Saruwaka, who once placed second in a local surfing contest and still rides waves for fun, said at her home in Tokyo.