Japan’s Premier Downwind Race – The 13th Annual O2Y – Okinawa to Yoron

Japan well known for it’s harmonizing culture, respect for elders, and collectivism invites you to join the 13th annual O2Y Race this upcoming June 28th 2025 (25km and 13km downwind distances). Today on TotalSUP we sit down with Takuji, the passionate race director of the Okinawa Downwind Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Race. With deep roots in Okinawa’s maritime culture, Takuji shares his vision of connecting past and present through water sports. He emphasizes the importance of preserving the region’s heritage while introducing the exhilarating sport of SUP to new generations. Over the years, the race has evolved significantly, embracing both heritage and innovation, as it attracts a growing number of participants. Join us as Takuji reveals insights into the race’s challenges, safety measures, and his aspirations for a sustainable future in paddleboarding.

Welcome back to TotalSUP today Takuji! We are so thrilled to see OY2 back on the racing calendar for 2025! What inspired you to become the race director for the Okinawa downwind stand-up paddle boarding race 13 years ago?

As you know, downwind paddling/racing is a sport that takes place in very deep waters. Before it is a sport, it is our “lifestyle.” In Okinawa (used to be called “Ryukyu Islands”) where we live, there is a phrase “Bankoku Shinryo” (connecting with the world across the ocean). Originally, there is a history and culture of crossing islands while catching fish and connecting with all the islands. Nowadays, fishing boats with engines have become mainstream, and crossing islands by human power is no longer practiced. That is why, by popularizing downwind paddling and racing, we are passing on our important history and heritage to our children.

That is fascinating that OY2 aims to teach Okinawa’s important history while having fun at the same time! Can you tell us more about the history of this race and how it has evolved over the years?

This year marks the 13th year since we hosted the SUP race event. We have been holding DW races consistently for the past 13 years with the goal of passing on the cultural heritage mentioned above. At the beginning, very few people knew the term SUP. I was originally a surfski, OC canoe, and lifesaving paddling athlete, but I was impressed by the wonderfulness of SUP, which can be easily carried by anyone, anytime and any type of water, including small children and tourists, and can be stood up and paddled immediately. Through the spread of SUP sports, we are working to educate children and protect the environment.

Amazing! What makes Okinawa a unique location for stand-up paddle boarding events, particularly this race?

This island is surrounded by coral reefs. It is a special island where warmth lasts, and seasonal winds blow all year round. Every year at the end of June, strong south winds from the horizon blow away the rainy dark clouds, summer arrives, and the sky turns deep pure blue. We call this seasonal wind “Kanaka”. The beauty of the deep, clear water of the open ocean as seen from a SUP is particularly indescribable. The exhilaration of gazing at the green forest while downwinding on this south wind is a special experience that can only be found at Okinawa DW.

Okinawa sounds like a very magical place to paddle! What are some of the key challenges you face in organizing this event each year?

The most important thing is communication between the Japan Coast Guard (police) and the fishermen. O2Y is not a race where you float a buoy on water and circle around it. The deep open ocean A to B one way, where various risks lurk, is truly an “adventure.” All participants and those involved in the race need to be willing to accept nature as it is. I think that the essence of this race cannot be understood unless we understand that we humans are part of the Earth. On that basis, we have held many discussions with fishermen friends who are familiar with the local sea, and have conducted rescue simulation training. Our family is also a fishing family. Fishermen and many volunteers are united in their feelings and have established a security system to prevent accidents as much as possible.

It sounds like there’s a lot of people in your community involved with organizing and supporting the race! How do you ensure the safety of participants during the race?

From the beginning of the last 13 years, safety measures have been the biggest challenge. Of course, safety equipment such as leashes and life jackets are mandatory. The long course is for the world’s top elite athletes, but this year we created a “short course division” as a new attempt for people who have just started DW racing. A new rule has been made that athletes participating in the short course division must have a minimum width of 25 inches, not the narrow race boards that are common in the SUP world. The race course also flexibly changes the starting point according to the wind direction. The course is decided 2-3 days before the actual race date. Setting a course that allows you to surf straight every time, not diagonally or sideways, is also very important for safety measures.

Thank you for sharing that valuable information! What are your goals for this year’s event, and how do they differ from previous years?

The name O2Y has also become widely known. Thanks to TotalSUP for your support and tireless hard work!! Until now, the number of participants was limited and it was an expert-only race, but in recent years, the number of people wanting to participate in O2Y has increased, so safety measures have become the biggest issue. I feel that we have finally entered the next stage, and as a new challenge, we will strive to create a system to ensure safety with even more fishermen.

Until last year, the event was limited to 25 people, traveling from Okinawa to the neighboring island of Yoron, but this year it has been changed to a “coastal downwind” event that passes alongside the island, and we are welcoming up to 40 paddlers (and up to 100 people who want to enjoy SUP polo in the beautiful ocean).

After the race ends on the main island of Okinawa, a small group of about 10 people will go on an expedition to the neighboring Yoron Island. This is not a race, but an adventure event where all participants cross the deep ocean channel safely, stopping several times along the way to re-group. My son Shuri has been doing this expedition with me every winter since he was 11 years old, and he has grown up with the changing weather, waves, and lots of fish. This project allows SUP paddlers around the world, especially children, to experience our ocean.

Incredible! We hope you achieve all of the goals you’ve set for the race this year. Can you highlight any new features or changes that participants can expect in this year’s race?

The ocean is so deep that you can’t see the bottom until you reach Yoron, but this time you pass right next to a cliff. The underwater topography around the island is complex. In some places, there are reefs and the currents are fast, creating unevenness on the sea surface. Many people may imagine that DW is surfing straight, but this course also tests the skill of maneuvering while surfing. What shape of board should you use? What fins should you use? Each athlete’s ingenuity and experience are required.

This year is a new course. It is a place that has never been used in our KANAKA Okinawa DW races for the past 13 years, so even local paddlers are expected to have a hard time navigating. You need to calculate the angle of the waves and surf towards the landmark you are aiming for.

How important is environmental sustainability in the planning of the race, and what measures are you implementing?

The “YANBARU” area in the north of Okinawa main island where we live is a “World Heritage Site” and is surrounded by rich forests and deep ocean. People live in harmony with nature and healthy food. The “Y” in O2Y stands for the first letter of Yanbaru, and the neighboring Yoron Island. If many people come to the beautiful island, nature will naturally become polluted. It is true that there are some people who are opposed to holding the event, but our family does not want to say, “Don’t come here because it’s an important place.” By hosting the O2Y event, we want to gather environmentally conscious paddlers and we are constantly racking our brains to find ways to get the message out there about protecting this wonderful natural environment.

The organizing committee’s theme for the event is, “The more people gather, the cleaner the local community will be.” The power source for the event venue is provided by a PHEV car, not a generator. We also encourage people to take their trash home.

“Take home the trash you produce.” People who can do this will also take home trash left behind by others. We believe that such people are the ones who can create a world that produces as little trash as possible. And we must not forget that the greatest attraction of SUP is that it is a sport that can express the beauty of the earth and the vitality of human beings. Yes, this is not an easy challenge at all, but we believe that difficult challenges are worth taking on. That’s why we keep paddling, we can keep challenging ourselves towards our dream.

Keep up the great work promoting the race, education, and environmentalism! That is so great what you’re putting out there for paddlers and tourists alike! What advice do you have for first-time participants in the Okinawa downwind race?

If you have participated in our downwind race in the past, you will understand the difficulty of navigation, but if you are a beginner, I would like to suggest that you participate in the training camp (June 23-27) before the race. This camp will help you remember the geographical features. My son Shuri and I will be the instructors and guide you to the Okinawa deep ocean. We will also give you advice on how to deal with the heat, as the sunlight in Okinawa is very strong in summer. Rental boards for DW are available for a fee (only for early entries in May).

Great advice thank you! How do you envision the future of stand-up paddle boarding events in Okinawa and globally?

The Okinawa archipelago is an island surrounded by the ocean, and many people may think that it is inconvenient at first glance, but in fact it is not. There is a history of very prosperous trade by ship since ancient times, and Taiwan is close enough to be seen with the eye. It is possible to travel to China, Korea, and Japan (Tokyo) by plane in two hours.

A total of 60 overseas athletes, including their families, visited the O2Y winter event held last month. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of students studying abroad on the island from outside the prefecture, immigrants, and SUP athletes visiting the island for training camps. Shuri Araki, who was born on this island, grew up through the KANAKA Okinawa Deep Ocean downwind race for the past 13 years and became a world champion. I feel that Okinawa will become the center of SUP, especially in Asia, in the next 10 years. That is why we, the executive committee, will continue to work with humility, feeling a responsibility to protect this wonderful environment.

To learn more about the event visit our event page here

To learn more about the race visit the website

To learn more about Takuji follow him on Instagram

To learn more about Shuri follow him on Instagram