The Uninvited lands in Japan: A new legacy begins

(February 6 to 8, 2026) This past weekend, The Uninvited brought its platform to Hoshino Resorts Nekoma Mountain, marking the inaugural Uninvited Japan Open presented by YETI. The event represented the realization of a decade long goal for founder Jess Kimura.

Anju Matsuoka takes center stage at The Uninvited Japan Open. I Photo: Remi Fukamachi

“It has been my dream to bring this event to Japan,” said Kimura. “I expected progressive riding, but the level of talent was beyond world class. These girls are the future, and seeing them step into the spotlight was an emotional moment for all of us.”

A distinguished judging panel featuring Aya Sato, Miyeong Yamaguchi, and Kimura herself oversaw the competition, taking on the challenging task of selecting five riders out of 45 participants who would share the ¥1.5 million prize purse. Original Uninvited films alumni Hiromi Takahashi MC’d the event, carrying her legacy forward with enthusiasm and encouragement. 

Riders as young as 8 years old approached the street-style setup with confidence and control, while paying reverence to the legendary talent who came before them. Fans lined the course from top to bottom, creating an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. Off the course, the vendor village became a gathering place for riders and spectators alike. YETI served hot soup in customizable thermoses, The North Face shared drinks alongside a presentation of their new collection with team rider Aya Sato, and Sun Bum provided sunscreen and lip balm. CAPiTA and Union ran gear demos and distributed handwarmers, keeping the crowd comfortable as they watched the riding unfold.

An emotional awards ceremony saw fifteen year old Midori Oshima presented with the “Yeti Rookie” prize, after riding with control and precision well beyond her years. Thirty-five year old Yurika Takizawa was awarded “The North Face Best Trick”, stunning the judges and crowd with a switch frontside bluntslide, 270 out on the waterfall rail, notably, the most intimidating feature of the entire event. Following standout performances at the 2025 Uninvited Invitational, Hinano Sakamoto (14), Himari Takamori (18) and Shizuku Haneda (15) rounded out the podium, setting a powerful standard for what lies ahead. 

R to L Yuri Takizawa (Best Trick), Shizuka Hanada (3rd), Hinano Sakamoto (1st), Himari Takamori (2nd), and Midori Oshima (Rookie) I Photo: Susie Floros

Results:

First Place - ￥600,000 - Hinano Sakamoto

Second Place - ￥375,000 - Himari Takamori

Third Place - ￥225,000 - Shizuku Hanada 

The North Face Best Trick - ￥150,000 - Yuri Takizawa

YETI Rookie Award - ￥150,000 - Midori Oshima

The first ever Community Ride Day at Nekoma Mountain. I  Photo: Remi Fukamachi

The weekend concluded with a Community Ride Day, hosted in collaboration with Tomoyo Oishi and Risa Fukasawa, co-founders of G-Jam, an all-girls event created to support progression in park riding while fostering meaningful community connections. 50 riders attended, and awards were presented to participants who stood out not only for their riding, but for their attitude, enthusiasm, and commitment to encouraging others.

A big thank you to the sponsors for making this event possible! The Uninvited Japan Open is presented by YETI with support from The North Face, CAPiTA, Union Binding Co., Sun Bum, Hoshino Resorts Nekoma Mountain and Slush The Magazine.