IFING Co., Ltd., the company behind the premium haircare brand TOKIO INKARAMI, announced at a press conference held in Tokyo on June 13, 2025, that snowboarders Taiga Hasegawa and Hiroto Ogiwara have officially signed with the TOKIO INKARAMI Snowboard Team.
The TOKIO INKARAMI Snowboard Team is already regarded as a dream team, featuring world-class athletes such as Ayumu Hirano and Cocomo Murase, both former world champions, alongside top international competitors including Kaishu Hirano, Yura Murase, Sara Shimizu, and Rise Kudo.
Joining this elite lineup are Taiga Hasegawa and Hiroto Ogiwara, two of the most exciting riders in the sport today. Both athletes have won major international titles in Big Air and Slopestyle, and are widely considered strong contenders for gold medals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
With the addition of Hasegawa and Ogiwara, the TOKIO INKARAMI Snowboard Team expands to an eight-athlete roster, entering a new phase of growth and development.
Below is a summary of comments shared during the press conference by both athletes, as well as Masanao Fuyuhiro, President and CEO of IFING Co., Ltd.
President Fuyuhiro Expresses Strong Expectations for the New Riders to Win Olympic Gold
At the beginning of the press conference, President Fuyuhiro stated, “Japanese snowboarders are dominating the world stage, and at the center of that success are Taiga Hasegawa and Hiroto Ogiwara.”
He continued, “Last month, the athletes from our snowboard team came to report on their activities over the past year, and the conversation naturally turned to next season. As both of them mentioned today, every athlete said they intend to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Normally, it might be more appropriate to simply wish for them to perform at their best, but in this case, I truly hope they achieve the gold medals they are all aiming for.”
Though delivered modestly, his comments reflected the strong confidence and expectations he has for the athletes.
Taiga Hasegawa and Hiroto Ogiwara Pledge to Win Gold at the Milano Cortina Olympics
Taiga Hasegawa explained that he had long been aware that top snowboarders such as Ayumu Hirano were part of TOKIO INKARAMI and said he was genuinely happy to join the team himself.
Looking ahead to next season and the Olympics, Hasegawa acknowledged the challenge of maintaining motivation over a long period, but emphasized the importance of “continuing to perform my own riding consistently at every competition.”
He then declared, “At the Olympics, I want to win gold medals in both Slopestyle and Big Air, and personally place those medals around President Fuyuhiro’s neck.”
Showing his trademark confidence, he added, “At the Milano Cortina Olympics, I’m going to be the main character.”
Ogiwara also shared that he felt both surprised and delighted when he learned that he would be supported by TOKIO INKARAMI.
Competing in the same disciplines as Hasegawa, Ogiwara smiled as he listened to his friend’s bold comments, but responded with determination of his own.
“I’m aiming for gold medals in both Slopestyle and Big Air as well. Taiga already said it, but I’d like to be the one who puts a gold medal around President Fuyuhiro’s neck instead.”
His remarks drew laughter and applause from the audience.
The exchange also highlighted the close bond between the two athletes, who have been friends and rivals since the fourth grade of elementary school.
The Future Challenges of Two Riders Known for Their One-of-a-Kind Tricks
Both athletes are renowned for possessing unique tricks that few, if any, others can perform.
In September 2023, Taiga Hasegawa became the first snowboarder in the world to successfully land a 1800 (five-and-a-half rotations) in all four directions: backside, frontside, cab, and switch backside.
Looking ahead to next season, Hasegawa explained that Big Air competitions will likely require tricks involving six rotations or more. For Slopestyle, where overall snowboarding ability is evaluated, he believes that improving his jib skills and three-dimensional spinning tricks will be essential. He emphasized his desire to continue refining those aspects of his riding.
Meanwhile, Hiroto Ogiwara attracted attention both in Japan and internationally after becoming the first rider in the world to land a Backside 2340, a six-and-a-half rotation trick, at the 2025 X Games Aspen.
Ogiwara expressed his determination to successfully perform the Backside 2340 at the Milano Cortina Olympic Gamesnext year. He also revealed an even bigger ambition:
“I don’t know when it will happen yet, but I want to land a 2700 (seven-and-a-half rotations) someday.”
He added that he hopes to maximize his greatest strength—his rotational ability—and continue pushing the limits of what is possible.
How the Two Athletes Hope to Grow the Future of Snowboarding
Speaking about the current state of snowboarding in Japan, Hasegawa admitted that the sport still receives far less attention than baseball, especially since the emergence of stars such as Shohei Ohtani.
However, he confidently stated:
“If I win at the Olympics, attention will naturally follow, and snowboarding will become much more popular in Japan.”
His comments reflected a proactive belief that his own success can help elevate the sport as a whole.
Ogiwara shared a similar perspective. He feels that Slopestyle and Big Air remain relatively unknown disciplines, even within snowboarding. When he talks to friends about the sport, they often associate snowboarding only with Halfpipe, largely due to Ayumu Hirano’s Olympic gold medal success.
Ogiwara hopes to change that perception through his own achievements.
“By winning a gold medal, I want to bring Slopestyle and Big Air into the spotlight all at once.”
His remarks demonstrated a strong desire not only to achieve personal success but also to expand awareness and appreciation of his disciplines among the wider public.
TOKIO INKARAMI’s Commitment to Supporting Its Athletes
President Fuyuhiro emphasized that TOKIO INKARAMI is built upon the vision of “sharing Japan’s highest-level products, technology, and education with the world and transforming beauty on a global scale.” He explained that the company’s support of elite athletes stems from a similar belief—that Japanese athletes possess world-class talent and ability, and deserve opportunities to showcase that excellence on the international stage.
With the addition of Taiga Hasegawa and Hiroto Ogiwara, the TOKIO INKARAMI Snowboard Team has become even stronger. As the next season approaches, expectations are high that the team’s athletes will continue to excel around the world and bring Olympic medals back to Japan at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Taiga Hasegawa Profile
Born on October 23, 2005, in Iwakura City, Aichi Prefecture, Taiga Hasegawa began snowboarding at the age of four and made his competitive debut at eight years old.
Recognized as a promising young talent from an early age, he won the Big Air event at the 2021 FIS Junior World Championships. He further established himself on the international stage by becoming the first Japanese rider ever to win a gold medal in Big Air at the FIS Snowboard World Championships in 2023.
That same year, he also captured both the Big Air and Slopestyle titles at the Junior World Championships, demonstrating his versatility and world-class ability.
In 2024, Hasegawa dominated the X Games Big Air competition, claiming victory with an outstanding performance. He continued his success in 2025 by winning both the FIS World Cup Big Air Crystal Globe and the Overall World Cup Title, proving his remarkable consistency at the highest level.
One of Hasegawa’s most notable achievements came in September 2023, when he became the first snowboarder in history to land a 1800 (five-and-a-half rotations) in all four directions—backside, frontside, cab, and switch backside. The accomplishment sent shockwaves throughout the snowboarding world.
Looking ahead to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Japan’s emerging leader has made his intentions clear:
“If I’m going to compete, I’m going for the gold medal.”
Hiroto Ogiwara Profile
Born on July 19, 2005, in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Hiroto Ogiwara began snowboarding at the age of three under the influence of his parents and quickly displayed exceptional talent.
At just nine years old, a video of him landing a Backside 1080 attracted widespread attention, marking him as one of the sport’s brightest young prospects.
He earned professional status at the age of twelve and continued developing his skills through competitions both in Japan and abroad.
Ogiwara secured his first FIS World Cup Big Air victory in 2023, and his career reached new heights during the 2024–25 season. He claimed his second World Cup win and then achieved a historic breakthrough at the 2025 X Games Big Air, where he became the first rider in competition history to successfully land a Backside 2340 (six-and-a-half rotations), earning his first X Games gold medal.
With his sights firmly set on the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Ogiwara is aiming for Olympic gold and hopes to reach the pinnacle of the sport alongside Hasegawa.