BIO TAISUKE

One of the B-Boys to look out for this year is TAISUKE Nonaka from Japan. He is one of the B-Boys portrayed in the dance documentary TURN IT LOOSE and also a member of the newly formed RED BULL BC ONE ALL STARS.

TAISUKE came in second at the Red Bull BC One in Paris in 2008 after making it to the quarterfinals in 2007 in South Africa. He will battle on his home turf this year and thus will have to deal with high expectations. Only 20 years old, he has already made his mark on the B-Boy scene. TAISUKE’s dance style is based on an impressive array of foundation moves, a variety of good toprocks and unique footwork combined with power moves.

TAISUKE is the cousin of B-Boy Toshiki, another great Japanese B-Boy. TAISUKE and Toshiki have a lot in common. Not only were they born on the same day, but they also grew up together in the same town and most importantly, both got into breaking through their sisters who were B-Girls and members of the same crew. TAISUKE and Toshiki started breaking when they were only eight years old and their sisters were big inspirations to them.

TAISUKE is originally from Nagasaki, but in now lives in Kanagawa, about an hour’s drive away from Shinjuku in central Tokyo. He shares an apartment with two tiny rooms and a small kitchen with a schoolmate. He just graduated from the International Dance College in Takadanobaba, where he had a scholarship and at the moment focuses on his B-Boy career.

Moving to Tokyo is the thing that had the biggest impact on TAISUKE’s life so far. He says it was a life-altering experience that changed the way he danced, his moves, and his attitude. Everything happened quickly when he moved there. Tokyo is the centre of a lot of activity, so by placing himself in that environment he was really able to accelerate his skills and become a much better B-Boy. He has been trying to persuade his cousin Toshiki to come to Tokyo and it looks like he succeeded.

The Zulu Kingz, the official B-Boys of the Zulu Nation, are TAISUKE’s big inspiration. The leader of his crew “All Area,” B-Boy Katsu, is a member of the Japanese chapter of the Zulu Kingz and TAISUKE, in spite of his young age, is already considered a top-tier B-Boy, someone to count on as a key member of the crew. This is a tremendous honor for TAISUKE.

TAISUKE may be very young, but he has already made a name for himself in the scene. Despite his young age, he not only studies, but also teaches dance at a local studio. Due to his early start, he is already an experienced B-Boy at the age of 20 with the ability to break it down.

TAISUKE is interested in geography. He loves checking out the world map because there are so many places that he doesn’t know yet. One of his dreams is to visit the World Heritage sites all over the world. He wants to travel, dance and learn and become an international player in the worldwide B-Boy scene. Apart from breaking, TAISUKE wants to try out dancing house and pop. He loves music, especially break-beats and the music of Ne-Yo, the young singer from Arkansas.

In his hometown of Nagasaki, a city surrounded by the ocean, his father taught him to fish and to make sashimi from the fresh seafood. This is a rare activity in a modern Japanese family, but one TAISUKE enjoyed a lot. Now, living in Tokyo, he refuses to eat any fish at all because he can’t get any as fresh as he was used to.

TAISUKE loves Red Bull and says that the Red Bull logo to him is like an icon for B-Boying. He says he owes a lot to the RED BULL BC ONE. “Ever since I participated, I got so many invitations to events overseas! I’m really proud and grateful for this opportunity!”

TAISUKE is pleased that the RED BULL BC ONE is finally going to be held in Asia. “It’s been a long wait and now it’s finally coming! And this year, it will be the biggest Red Bull BC One ever with over 3.000 spectators! It’s going to be crazy! The event is on my home turf and all eyes are going to be on me. That does put a lot of pressure on me, but no worries, it won’t affect me. I have a score to settle after Paris. This year I’m going to win!”