Prefectural Honor Award Given to Ryusei Yamada for Winning a Medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: 'Bringing Dreams, Hope, and Excitement to the Citizens'
Niigata Prefecture announced the awarding of the Prefectural Honor Award to Ryusei Yamada, a student at JWSC, who won a bronze medal in Snowboard Halfpipe at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
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- 📰 Published: April 3, 2026 at 03:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 2, 2026 at 19:35
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 05:58 (442h 23m after Collected)
On April 2, 2026, Niigata Prefecture announced that it will award the Prefectural Honor Award to Ryusei Yamada, a first-year student in the Board Sports Business & University Department at the International Snowboard & Skateboard College (abbreviated as JWSC, located in Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture), part of the NSG Group, who won a bronze medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
[Comment from Hideyo Hanazumi, Governor of Niigata Prefecture]
"He has given the people of the prefecture dreams, hope, and excitement through his wonderful performance and competition. Because he has also greatly contributed to elevating hometown pride, we have decided to present him with the Prefectural Honor Award."
## ■ Captivating the world with originality and height
Yamada, who passed the Milano Cortina Olympics qualifiers in 3rd place, showcased an overwhelming, high-flying ride from his first run in the finals. He perfectly executed a creative routine, scoring a high 92.00 points.
In the modern competitive scene where high-rotation tricks are the mainstream, Yamada's riding, which emphasizes trick originality and style, received high praise from judges and spectators worldwide. He achieved the remarkable feat of standing on the podium as one of two Japanese athletes, alongside gold medalist Yuto Totsuka.
Yamada has steadily improved his abilities within the multifaceted training environment provided by our school. In addition to specialized training, he has honed his advanced aerial sense using trampolines and skateboards, and even strengthened his physical condition. By maintaining a high-level balance between his studies and competition, he has built up his preparation to take off into the world.
His stable performances continuing since last season and his highly accomplished, unique riding have attracted significant attention both domestically and internationally. Winning this medal marks a major milestone where his efforts have borne fruit.
## ■ Profile
- Name: Ryusei Yamada
- Hometown: Sapporo City, Hokkaido
- School: International Snowboard & Skateboard College
- Department: Snowboard Department, Top Athlete Course, 2nd year
- Affiliation: Vocational School JWSC
- Event: Snowboard Halfpipe (SB-HP)
- Achievements:
- December 2023: World Cup 2nd Race SB-HP 5th place
- February 2024: Youth Olympic Games SB-HP 3rd place
- December 2024: World Cup 1st Race SB-HP 3rd place
[Comment from Hideyo Hanazumi, Governor of Niigata Prefecture]
"He has given the people of the prefecture dreams, hope, and excitement through his wonderful performance and competition. Because he has also greatly contributed to elevating hometown pride, we have decided to present him with the Prefectural Honor Award."
## ■ Captivating the world with originality and height
Yamada, who passed the Milano Cortina Olympics qualifiers in 3rd place, showcased an overwhelming, high-flying ride from his first run in the finals. He perfectly executed a creative routine, scoring a high 92.00 points.
In the modern competitive scene where high-rotation tricks are the mainstream, Yamada's riding, which emphasizes trick originality and style, received high praise from judges and spectators worldwide. He achieved the remarkable feat of standing on the podium as one of two Japanese athletes, alongside gold medalist Yuto Totsuka.
Yamada has steadily improved his abilities within the multifaceted training environment provided by our school. In addition to specialized training, he has honed his advanced aerial sense using trampolines and skateboards, and even strengthened his physical condition. By maintaining a high-level balance between his studies and competition, he has built up his preparation to take off into the world.
His stable performances continuing since last season and his highly accomplished, unique riding have attracted significant attention both domestically and internationally. Winning this medal marks a major milestone where his efforts have borne fruit.
## ■ Profile
- Name: Ryusei Yamada
- Hometown: Sapporo City, Hokkaido
- School: International Snowboard & Skateboard College
- Department: Snowboard Department, Top Athlete Course, 2nd year
- Affiliation: Vocational School JWSC
- Event: Snowboard Halfpipe (SB-HP)
- Achievements:
- December 2023: World Cup 2nd Race SB-HP 5th place
- February 2024: Youth Olympic Games SB-HP 3rd place
- December 2024: World Cup 1st Race SB-HP 3rd place