For all those who love the mountains, “Oakley Community Days”—an event organized by Oakley—is held at snow resorts around the world. In Japan, this year’s event took place on March 8 at the Happo-one Ski Resort in Hakuba, Nagano. This time, Fuinam invited video creator MARCO and DJ/beatmaker SOUSHI as guests to relive the pre-trip experience they enjoyed firsthand! From racing down the slopes to breaking out on the snow and losing themselves in the music until late at night. We bring you the full story of those 72 hours packed with the unique culture of Oakley.
Photo_Junpei Ishikawa
Text_Jun Nakada
PROFILE
Born in Niigata Prefecture, currently based in Tokyo. After making a name for himself as a FIXEDGEAR pro rider both in Japan and abroad, he transitioned into the world of film and documentaries. In 2025, he released the film *Life is snap*, which he directed, filmed, and edited, and which is currently screening nationwide. He is the founder of the creative label “MANNERS KNOWS.” Instagram: @_m_a_r_c_o
PROFILE
Originally from Kumamoto Prefecture, he now lives in Tokyo. He runs his own label, “SOULSHEET RECORDS,” and while hip-hop is his core focus, his musical range extends to 70s soul, Japanese music, and jazz. He has established a unique artistic vision through his style of personally digging for records and transforming them into samples. Having been into skateboarding since his teens, he embodies street culture with every fiber of his being. @_soushi_.
To the event venue at an elevation of 1,400 meters, with the Northern Alps as a backdrop.
"Oakley Community Days" is a community event organized by Oakley at ski resorts around the world. The event has made stops at renowned resorts such as Laax in Switzerland and Whistler in Canada, and this year marks its third time in Japan.
The venue, Hakuba Happo-one Ski Resort, is one of Japan’s premier big-mountain resorts, featuring a giant slalom course with an 800-meter vertical drop and the iconic Usagidaira Terrace, just a 30-second walk from the gondola’s summit station.
Located halfway up the mountain, "OAKLEY TERRACE" is a sky lounge offering panoramic views of the Northern Alps, where Oakley’s large elliptical logo stands out against the snowy landscape.
The essence of this event lies in the fact that people from all over the world—not just skiers and snowboarders, but also lovers of music, fashion, and culture—gather here to form a community that transcends borders, using the unique setting of the snowy mountains as their stage. The international atmosphere of Hakuba and the appeal of the Oakley brand are truly evident here.
Night in Hakuba has turned into a festival.
The night before the event, the two headed to “SNOW MACHINE,” an outdoor music festival being held at Hakuba Donguri Campground. Sponsored by Oakley, the festival left us amazed by the crowd the moment we stepped onto the grounds.
As far as the eye can see, more than 80% of the visitors are from overseas. The international appeal of this event, which originated in New Zealand, combined with the location of Hakuba, makes you forget for a moment that you’re in Japan.
As blue and white lasers cut through the snow mist, the crowd went wild during STEVE AOKI’s set. The energy in the venue reached its peak, and even MARCO and SOUSHI found themselves moving instinctively to the music, as it took over the space, transcending borders and language.
In the lounge area, I ran into professional riders like Teikatsu Nagahashi, who recently won a silver medal in the slopestyle event at the Winter Olympics; Ryo Aizawa, a freestyle snowboarder with a truly unique style; and Rimu Nakamura, a member of the Japanese national BMX freestyle team.
MARCO and professional BMX rider Hima Nakai, who have been close friends for a long time.
With looks that seemed to say, “I never expected to run into you here,” we all laughed together and took a group photo—a truly heartwarming moment. Days on the slopes, nights on the dance floor. And so, the night in Hakuba wore on.
"It was way more intense than I expected! It’s not often you see so many riders gathered in one place like that," (MARCO)
Ryo Aizawa and Teikatsu Nagahashi. A morning spent chasing the pros' style.
On the morning of Sunday, March 8, as participants began to gather at OAKLEY TERRACE, Teikatsu Hasegawa addressed the crowd with a few words: “The snow’s super hard today, so please be careful not to get hurt. Let’s take it slow but intense—and make it exciting!” The conditions that day were so icy it was hard to believe it was March. Still, from kids to adults, the eyes of everyone who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the pros were filled with anticipation.
One of the highlights of this event is “RIDE WITH THE PROS,” an activity where Ryo Aizawa, Teikatsu Hasegawa, Gen Fujii (skiing), and MIGHTY CROWN lead a team down the slope. As participants follow behind them down the course, that unique sense of unity—the moment the community comes together as one—is born.
MARCO couldn’t hide his background as an experienced snowboarder, carving up the slopes with a style that made it hard to believe it had been so long since he’d last ridden.
Even though this is only Soushi’s third time snowboarding, true to his words—“No one can beat my determination”—he keeps tackling the slopes with sheer grit.
"I'm totally pumped. Even if things don't go as planned, once I'm out on the slopes, I forget all about it—that's the magic of the mountains." (SOUSHI)
Pros and amateur skiers, experts and beginners all share the same slopes. That, perhaps, is the true essence of Oakley Community Days.
Breakdancing on the snow, patches, and photo booths.
With the excitement from the ride still in the air, the venue’s energy reached new heights. That was ’BREAKIN’ ON SNOW,” held at “Oakley Terrace.” The first-ever snow-based breakdancing show by the crew “Ⅻ AFTER OURS”—featuring Raion Kubota, Gekko Iinuma, and Nanoha Mase—captivated everyone in attendance. The silhouettes of the breakers stood out against the white snow, accompanied by roaring cheers. This, too, is a scene that only Oakley could create.
At "CUSTOM STATION," located on the 2nd floor of Usagidaira Terrace, workshops are held where you can have Oakley patches heat-pressed onto your favorite items, such as beanies and T-shirts, right on the spot.
Both MARCO and SOUSHI found themselves completely absorbed in the unique experience of creating their very own items.
At the "DIGITAL PHOTO BOOTH" right by the terrace entrance, photos are printed on the spot and given to you as a gift. That single shot of the two of us standing side by side, with the shutter clicked, truly captured the memories of those three days.
"Oakley Community Days" is a place where people connect.
“The moment I put on my Oakley gear, I got really excited. Gear really does have a direct impact on your motivation. It had been a while since I’d been on the snowy mountains, but my body still remembered. I immediately wanted to come back.” (MARCO)
"To be honest, I'm still a beginner, but when I put on my Oakley gear and goggles and hit the slopes, I just can't help but get pumped. My passion for snowboarding has been reignited after a long time. I'll definitely be back next season!" (SOUSHI)
Hitting the slopes, grooving to the music, and sharing laughs with strangers. “Oakley Community Days” has created a place where people connect—a space that transcends the boundaries of sports. The snowy mountains serve as a catalyst that brings different cultures together. The experiences of MARCO and SOUSHI clearly demonstrated this.
