The 22nd Edition of Red Bull BC One World Final marks Japan’s first-ever national sweep of both world titles on home soil.
TOKYO, JAPAN – November 9, 2025 – Japanese breakers B-Boy Issin and B-Girl Riko were crowned Red Bull BC One World Final 2025 Champions after an unforgettable night of head-to-head battles inside Tokyo’s historic Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena igniting a roar from more than 7,700 fans.The 2025 edition marked a historic milestone, the first time in Red Bull BC One history that a single nation claimed both world titles in the same year on home soil, with Issin and Riko completing the home-country sweep.
Issin triumphed over B-Boy Haruto (Japan) in an all-Japanese final, while Riko overcame B-Girl Nicka (Lithuania) to earn her first world title.
Now in its 22nd year, Red Bull BC One, the world’s biggest one-on-one annual breaking competition, brought together 32 of the world’s top breakers, 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls, for the ultimate test of creativity, precision, and control.As the curtain closes on an unforgettable night in Japan, Red Bull BC One now looks ahead to its next chapter: the 2026 World Final, set to take place in Toronto, Canada, where a new generation of breakers will battle for the championship belt.
From Cyphers to the World Final
The journey to Tokyo began months earlier, as breakers around the world stepped into local Red Bull BC One Cyphers, open community battles held in 67 cities across 27 countries. Each cypher champion advanced through regional and national qualifiers, reflecting how breaking has evolved from a grassroots culture into a global sport.
In Tokyo, the Red Bull BC One Last Chance Cypher offered one final opportunity for eight breakers to reach the World Final. Held on November 7 at Spotify O-East, the event brought together 51 breakers from 26 countries, all competing for the last available spots. By night’s end, four b-girls and four b-boys had earned their place among the world’s best, completing the 32 finalists who would perform at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena.
Red Bull BC One World Final
On November 9, the Red Bull BC One World Final 2025 transformed Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena into the global stage for breaking’s best. Under the arena lights where sumo legends once stood, 32 finalists, 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls, battled for the world’s most prestigious one-on-one breaking titles.
The lineup featured a mix of world champions, Olympians, and rising stars from across the globe. Each battle fused athletic precision with artistic expression, judged on creativity, musicality, execution, and originality, the core pillars of competitive breaking.
In the end, B-Boy Issin (JP) triumphed over B-Boy Haruto (JP) in an all-Japanese final, while B-Girl Riko (JP) claimed her first world title after defeating B-Girl Nicka (LT). Together, their victories marked a historic sweep for Japan on home soil.
QUOTES
B-Boy Issin:
“I’m so happy. When I was a kid and started breaking, my first dream was to win Red Bull BC One. Finally, that dream came true. I’m so, so happy. Winning such a big title in front of my home crowd makes it even more special. The energy from everyone in Japan gave me so much strength. I was ready to celebrate with (B-Boy) Haruto (Japan) because he’s like my brother. When I realized I won, I was really happy. We’re all pushing each other, always battling, always improving. I think that constant drive and healthy competition is why Japanese breakers are getting stronger and stronger.”
B-Girl Riko:
“It’s an amazing feeling. To win here, in Japan, in front of this crowd, it’s something I’ll never forget. Physically, I stuck to my usual training routine. But mentally, I had to lock in even more than usual because this is Red Bull BC One, it’s one of the toughest competitions in the world. I knew I had to bring my absolute best, and that mindset really paid off today. (On Japan’s Breaking Dominance) “I think it’s our discipline. We train so hard and never stop pushing. The older generation of breakers set that standard for us, they built a culture of hard work and respect. Now we keep that energy alive. We have so many incredible b-boys and b-girls, and we all inspire and push each other to improve.”
Meet the Champions
B-Boy Issin – Issin’s boundless energy and unmatched power have propelled him to fame, as evidenced by his mesmeric performance in the Red Bull BC One World Final of 2022, where he advanced to the semi-finals. Three years later, he reached the pinnacle of the competition, winning the Red Bull BC One World Final 2025 in Tokyo.
B-Girl Riko – Hailing from Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost island, B-girl Riko discovered breaking at eight years old. Mentored by B-Boy Taiga and supported by her One Piece Crew teammates, she developed a style defined by musicality and precision. After earning international recognition through the WDSF Breaking for Gold series and the World Games, she claimed her first world title at the Red Bull BC One World Final 2025, completing a historic home-country sweep.
The Evolution of Breaking
Breaking began in the Bronx in the 1970s as an expression of hip-hop’s core values: individuality, resilience, and community. Born on the streets and shaped in local cyphers (community battles), it was a raw form of storytelling through movement.
“Back then, it was all energy and mystery,” said B-Boy Cloud (US), a Red Bull BC One judge, choreographer and one of breaking’s most influential figures. “We didn’t have social media, just VHS tapes and word of mouth. You’d hear about a dancer, show up at a jam, and when they hit the floor, you’d instantly know who they were. It felt mythical, electric, and alive.”
As the culture spread across continents, battles became the universal stage for competition. When Red Bull BC One launched in 2004, it transformed those grassroots contests into a global platform, shaping the shared format and judging systems that define competitive breaking today.
Over the next two decades, that platform connected national qualifications called Red Bull BC One Cyphers in every corner of the world. In Japan, the scene evolved rapidly. Breakers there embraced discipline, precision, and musical interpretation, qualities that influenced the global standards now used in elite judging. The country became both a creative hub and a proving ground for the world’s top talent.
“Breakers today treat their bodies like elite athletes,” said B-Boy Cico (IT), health professional, former Red Bull BC One All Star, and powermove legend. “They train smarter, recover better, and have full teams supporting them; physiotherapists, chiropractors, coaches – things we didn’t have when I started.”
Breaking’s evolution from cultural movement to athletic discipline reached a new milestone in 2024, when it made its Olympic debut. The sport’s arrival on the world’s largest stage signaled how far it had come , from park jams in New York to the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena in Tokyo, while maintaining the same foundation of creativity, rhythm, and self-expression.
“Breaking keeps evolving and pushing boundaries,” said B-Boy Cloud (US). “That unstoppable energy is what brought it to the Olympics and to Red Bull BC One. It is more than competition; it is a calling. No matter how big the stage gets, that creative spirit, that soul, keeps moving forward.”
From New York to Tokyo, Red Bull BC One bridges generations of breakers, celebrating both the roots and the evolution of the culture, and stands today as the world’s biggest annual one-on-one breaking competition.
Why It Matters
For more than two decades, the Red Bull BC One World Final has stood at the center of competitive breaking, the world’s biggest annual one-on-one breaking competition.“Because of the Olympics, breaking is getting bigger and bigger in Japan. So many people start to know it,” said B-Girl Ami (JP), Red Bull dancer and Olympic gold medalist in Breaking. “Seeing the World Final return to Tokyo means a lot. Breaking here feels different, it’s not only about scores but about energy, respect, and creativity. I hope people who discovered breaking through sport will now fall in love with the culture.”
“Red Bull BC One has always been my dream stage,” Ami added. “When I first stepped on that floor, I didn’t think about winning, I was just happy to express myself. It’s the place that showed me breaking could be both culture and competition.”
About Red Bull BC One
Red Bull BC One is the biggest annual breaking event in the world. Each year, thousands of breakers compete through national and regional cyphers for a chance to represent at the World Final.
Since 2004, the series has hosted 22 World Finals across major cities, helping define the modern competition era of breaking while staying true to its hip-hop roots.
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For more information, visit www.redbull.com/bcone or watch the replay of the Red Bull BC One World Final on Red Bull TV