Profile
In 2026, KYOKA appeared in an APPLEBUM solo dance film and on two MLB photographic T-shirts. Her work in front of the camera extends a hip-hop career built alongside MAiKA in RUSHBALL.
KYOKA is from Osaka. She practised karate before hip-hop and began dancing at eight. Inspired by Morning Musume, she formed RUSHBALL with MAiKA in June 2004. The pair won the hip-hop world final at Juste Debout in Paris in 2016 and the WDC final in 2019.
Teaching and filming are also part of her work. When the pandemic disrupted events in 2020, KYOKA spent more time on classes and making videos with students. An in-person Kawasaki workshop planned for January 2021 moved online; the April 2 class combined a studio audience with a livestream, leaving a 30-second workshop film and a subsequent interview.
In 2025 she competed in World of Street Woman Fighter as a member of OSAKA Ojo Gang, alongside IBUKI. OSAKA Ojo Gang won that edition of the programme.
Her 2026 APPLEBUM work also featured her as a model. The Studio Move solo dance film was made by @tkwfunkypop; two T-shirts released in August, NY Yankees and LA Dodgers, used her photographs. She also studies forms including drunken boxing, flamenco and Latin dance as she develops her own expression.
Competition history & results
Selected official records
| Year | Competition | Division | Round | Rank | Score | Team / participants | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Juste Debout Date: — | Hip-hop 2-on-2 | Final | 1 | — | 2016 team: RUSHBALL | ビジョトダンス original short interview, APPLEBUM Studio Move |
| 2019 | World Dance Colosseum Date: — | Hip-hop 2-on-2 | Final | 1 | — | 2019 team: RUSHBALL | ビジョトダンス original short interview |
| 2025 | World of Street Woman Fighter Date: — | — | — | Participation | — | 2025 team: OSAKA Ojo Gang | ABEMA official 2025 programme cast, ABEMA TIMES / ABEMA K-POP channel |
Keep exploring
Dance work and making a show
A roughly ten-minute interview after the workshop covers recent dance work, meeting AMAMI and making shows.
2026 media
APPLEBUM Studio Move · KYOKA
An APPLEBUM solo dance film performed by KYOKA and made by @tkwfunkypop.
Interviews and performances
When events stopped, making films with students
In separate answers to this 2020 interview, KYOKA discusses her classes, filming and student work at the time.
From karate to hip-hop
Her Osaka background, the influence of Morning Musume and the beginnings of RUSHBALL with MAiKA.
Two KYOKA photographic T-shirts in 2026
APPLEBUM’s MLB collection features KYOKA as the model for NY Yankees and LA Dodgers photographic T-shirts.
Earlier works
A 30-second Kawasaki workshop
The original reporting outlet presents a short film from the workshop held in person and online on April 2, 2021.
Career history
Modelling for APPLEBUM photographic T-shirts
MLB Capsule Collection 2026 introduced two KYOKA photographic T-shirts; the Shibuya pop-up continued until August 31.
Joining OSAKA Ojo Gang’s 2025 programme line-up
KYOKA competed in World of Street Woman Fighter as a member of the crew led by IBUKI, which went on to win.
Bringing studio and online participants together
After the January class moved online during the emergency, the Kawasaki workshop took place with studio participants and a livestream in April.
Winning a duo final in Paris
RUSHBALL won the Juste Debout hip-hop world final. Three years later, the pair also won the WDC final.
Forming RUSHBALL with MAiKA
The two Osaka dancers formed their duo in June 2004, when KYOKA was eight.
Follow the performer and team
Article sources & photo credits
Featured video original title: RUSH BALL KYOKA INTERVIEW - TALK ABOUT DANCE WORK - MISIA - DA PUMP - CULTTZ STREET-
Updated 2026-10-23
2025-07-25
2020-08-14
2021-04-07
2021-04-02T21:15:56-07:00
2021-04-04T04:13:17-07:00
2026-04-24