Ami
Japan
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Music
Birthplace | Saitama, Japan |
|---|---|
Nationality | Japan |
Career start | 2009 |
Disciplines | Breaking |
Born in Saitama, Japan, B-Girl Ami was first introduced to hip-hop culture and dance at the age of six by her older sister, and by 10 had already developed a love for breaking. She would go on to be taught by some of the best b-boys to come out of Japan, including Katsu-One, Taisuke and Wata.
They helped Ami develop the clean breaking style that she's now known for, with her smooth flow, razor-sharp footwork and explosive power moves helping her win numerous titles. In 2016 she won the Battle of the Year 2v2 B-Girl competition with her sister Ayu, and in 2018 won the Silverback Open B-Girl title and the Undisputed World B-Boy Series B-Girl competition.
In 2018, Ami made history by becoming the first-ever b-girl to win the Red Bull BC One World Final. This was shortly followed by becoming the first b-girl to join the Red Bull BC One All Stars. "When I won, I felt so proud to be representing my country and myself," she says. "At the time, I wasn't only focusing on winning the belt and making history but also having fun."
In 2019, Ami was again crowned a world champion, this time at the first WDSF World Breaking Championships. This led to interviews with the likes of Forbes, advertising campaigns and being invited to judge competitions. She would also star in a worldwide breaking tour with the Red Bull BC One All Stars.
In 2023, Ami won her second belt at the Red Bull BC One World Final in Paris and silver at the Asian Games, as well as the Asian Continental Championships in Hangzhou, China. She also took the win at the WDSF Breaking For Gold World Series in Rio de Janerio, Brazil.
The year after, Ami added another historic first to her collection. She won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
Currently based in the Kanagawa prefecture in Japan, Ami continues to train five or six days a week and hopes to have the opportunity to showcase her talent around world. She says: "I learnt so many things by seeing the world that I never would have learnt if I hadn't become a b-girl. Every place I've gone is a new experience and a special one for me always. I love meeting new dancers. I still want to visit so many places and experience different scenes and culture."