Kirk here with news about Kumamoto’s own Miyabi Onitsuka – the snowboarder from Luther High School. I saw a report about this on Japanese TV last night.
The following Japan Times article says that she is the “first Japanese, male or female, to claim a world championships podium finish in the big air event.” And she did it growing up in Kumamoto – a nice place but not ideal for snowboarders. Amazing! Congratulations Miyabi!!