Japan’s Airfootworks’ gravity-defying act at SCRF 2025fills young audiences with awe and inspiration

Trailblazing Japanese troupe brings their signature ‘floating’ illusion and boundary-pushing dance to the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, inspiring a new generation of performers

Sharjah, April 29, 2025

The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2025) welcomed Airfootworks – Japan’s gravity-defying acrobatic act, who gave hundreds of schoolchildren an electrifying performance.

The auditorium, filled with fans – some already familiar with Airfootworks from their appearance on America’s Got Talent – buzzed with excitement as the trio executed their signature floating illusion. Takashi Jonishi, Nao Uochi, and Kou Koga delivered a 20-minute spectacle, blending dance, martial arts, calisthenics, and storytelling.

“We’re doing something no one else is – pushing the limits of the human body,” said Takashi Jonishi, reflecting on their journey from Tokyo to global recognition.

Their signature move is powered by a custom-built ‘cube’ apparatus, designed by Takashi himself. “I create and build the cube for every show. This one was made by the UAE team, exactly like the one we use in Japan,” he shared.

The performance was an invitation for children to imagine the impossible. After the show, the trio mingled with the delighted crowd for selfies, autographs, and hugs. “The love from the children is incredible,” said Takashi. “This is why we do it.”

Takashi’s journey began with the World Order before a back injury led him to calisthenics and the creation of “air dance”—a fusion of bodyweight training and dance. “I wanted to make it look like we’re walking on air,” he said.

The group’s strength lies in their diversity. Alongside Takashi, Nao Uochi, a breakdancer and Youth Olympic Games qualifier, brings creativity and athleticism, while Kou Koga, a leading street workout athlete, enhances every performance with strength and storytelling.

For the children at SCRF 2025, Airfootworks offered proof that art, resilience, and imagination can lift us to new heights.

Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, the 16th edition of the festival runs until May 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah.

-ENDS-

Attached Images

1-6) General images during the “ Air Foot Work “ show at Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival 2025