Japanese hip-hop dancer enjoys immense popularity in Korea after starring in Mnet's survival program
Japanese hip-hop dancer Kyoka Yamamoto has become a sensation among Koreans — a rare achievement for a Japanese woman — thanks to her outstanding performances and charisma in the latest series of Mnet’s popular survival reality show, “Street Woman Fighter.” The ongoing third season of the show, titled “World of Street Woman Fighter” (WSWF), expands the show’s original format into an international contest, featuring six crews from Korea, Japan, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Born and raised in Osaka, Kyoka is a core member of OSAKA Ojo Gang, a seven-member project crew that represents Japan. Out of the 24 dancers competing against each other as national representatives, the 29-year-old has received significant attention from Korean viewers, not only for her charismatic stage presence, but also for her authentic confidence and iconic character. Kyoka was born in 1996 and began dancing at the age of 8, quickly garnering recognition as a world-class dancer. She became the first Japanese dancer to win the global hip-hop competition Juste Debout in France at the
