We first met in 2016 at the launch party for our magazine "BACKSIDE," which featured Kazuhiro Kokubo and Ayumu Hirano. Ohto, then 11 years old, attended with his parents, and I'll never forget the sight of him listening intently to what the world's top riders had to say. The following year, he also showed up at a preview screening of Kudo Kohei's film, sitting in the audience alongside Su Yimin, who would go on to win gold in the big air at the Beijing Olympics. Ohto has been at the forefront of snowboarding culture since he was a child.
　Nine years have passed since then. Ohto continues to evolve day by day, and has already reached a level beyond imagination. While snowboarding, now in its eighth Olympic year, is solely focused on competitiveness, at the heart of him is snowboarding as a culture. He laughs and says he would rather ski than work out, and continues to break world records as an extension of having fun. Watching him, I sense a ray of hope that will pave the way for the future.

Written by Daisuke Nogami

　Hiroto has been skiing at NEKOMA Mountain (formerly NEKOMA Ski Resort) since he was a child. His father, Takayuki, was the reason behind this. He used to help build a half-pipe on the mountain, letting his son play and practicing on the terrain, which naturally led to his son's improvement. He also started snowboarding at the age of three, initially because his father wanted to "play with him."
　He says he's not surprised when his son lands an unprecedented 2340 spin. That's because he's seen his son's long-term development up close. While Ohto may appear to be a challenger at first glance, he is actually extremely cautious. He won't attempt a new trick until he has a complete picture of it in his head. This attitude has helped him avoid injury and is the driving force behind his continued success in breaking world records.
　Although he grew up in a board-riding culture, he is extremely serious at home. It is this honesty that supports Hiroto, who is known all over the world.

Written by Daisuke Nogami
Special Thanks: Father: Takayuki Ogiwara

　Takashi Nishida, an Olympian himself and a coach at SNOW JAPAN who has trained many top riders, first met Ohto in 2017. While impressed by his ability to control high-rotation spins despite being only a sixth-grader, he pointed out that Ohto's air wasn't high enough. The following year, when he completely overcame this weakness and showed off his flawless jumps, Nishida had a hunch that "he could become the best in the world."
　Since then, Ohto has continued to break new ground, becoming the youngest person in the world to successfully land a backside 1800 and the world's first 2160, and at the 2025 X Games he landed a 2340 that surpassed conventional standards, winning the gold medal. Still, he is not satisfied and seeks even greater heights. He analyzes and corrects his own footage, and continues to greedily challenge himself. In Nishida's eyes, he is the world's best spin master, loved not only for his technique but also for his humanity.

Written by Daisuke Nogami
Special Thanks: Takashi Nishida (Technical coach for the Japanese national snowboarding team)

　From his official debut at age 7, to completing a 1440 at age 13, and an 1800 at age 15, becoming the youngest person in the world to do so, all at NEKOMA Mountain (formerly ALTS Bandai). Yuji Yamada, Japan's top park builder who has worked on creating the slopes, says that Ohto's skating has often exceeded his expectations.
　Yamada's philosophy is "safety." He ensures airtime while also ensuring that even if he fails, he won't suffer serious injury. That's why Ohto was at NEKOMA right before he landed the world's first 2160. And even right after his victory at the World Cup, he continues to practice at NEKOMA.
　Numerous world records have been set thanks to the environment he has built up over the years. Ohto, who achieved 2340 at the "X GAMES," is aiming for even more. Witnessing his journey with NEKOMA from now on will also help Yamada realize his dream.

Written by Daisuke Nogami
Special Thanks: Yuji Yamada (NEKOMA Mountain Park Builder)