About Westie Tokyo

"We want to share the life-changing experience through partner dancing with many people."

WESTIE TOKYO is a project launched by Okacchi in 2020 to promote the development of the West Coast Swing scene in Japan.

Since then, it has evolved, gradually changing its form and members as the scene has grown.

We are constantly trying new things, such as lessons, events, and inviting dancers from overseas, and we are striving to make this dance accessible to as many people as possible through trial and error.

Just as Okacchi himself has experienced, he strongly desires that many people experience how partner dancing itself and this dance can change their lives, even from the depths of despair. We will strive to convey this message to as many people as possible.

WESTIE TOKYO Representative
Okacchi (Masastoshi Okada)

Born November 15, 1986, in Kanagawa Prefecture. He discovered breakdancing in high school and studied under Gunjo Kubo. Since around 2010, he has been actively performing as a member of the breakdancing unit Out of Mind Crew, participating in events such as Battle of the Year and Freestyle Session, while also running and teaching breakdancing classes for children.

Since 2014, he has worked as an instructor at the Yokohama Academy of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio, founded by Arthur Murray, a pioneer in the American partner dance world, and known for producing many famous dancers such as Madonna and John Travolta. He has mastered and taught a wide range of partner dances, including waltz, Argentine tango, mambo, samba, salsa, bachata, hustle, and swing. Since 2016, he has also been teaching and performing Kizomba and Zouk.

In 2016, he met John & Alyssa, who would become her mentors in West Coast Swing, and began participating in international competitions the following year. He also learned under Jordan Frisbee, an 11-time world champion, and has won awards in the Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced categories.

Currently, leveraging her background as a top dancer in Japan's West Coast Swing scene, she is actively working to spread West Coast Swing throughout Japan, starting in Tokyo.

Based on his extensive dance and teaching experience, his precise advice and lessons tailored to each individual's level and goals are highly regarded.

Awards
June 2017 (South Korea) Korea Westival Newcomer #1
2018.1 (Canada) Swingcouver Novice 1st Place
2018.4 (Singapore) AWCSO Intermediate 4th place
2018.9 (South Korea) FallFallSwing Intermediate 3rd Place
2018.11 (USA) US OPEN Intermediate Final 10th place
December 2018 (USA) TAP Intermediate 5th place
2019.4 (Singapore) AWCSO Intermediate 4th place
2019.5 (Australia) Swingsation Intermediate 4th place
2020.1 (Canada) Swingcouver Intermediate 3rd place
2020.1 (USA) Monterey Swingfest Intermediate: 4th place

April 2023 (Singapore) Asia West Coast Swing Open 2023 Advanced: 8th place

2024.4 (South Korea) Korean Open WCS Advanced Finalist

2025.4 (South Korea) Korean Open WCS Advanced 2nd place

December 2025 (USA) TAP Advanced 3rd Place

April 2026 (South Korea) Korean Open WCS Advanced, 2nd place

Media appearances and other awards, etc.

Yosui Inoue "Into a Dream" Music Video

Adobe DANCE VIDEO FES Excellence Award

QVC Dance Contest QVC Award

SNS Dance Contest Star Buzz Challenge 2 Buzz LED Award

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Pocari Sweat TV Commercial "#PocariSunRelay"

WESTIE TOKYO Vice Representative
Haruka (Haruka Okada)

Born in Hyogo Prefecture on October 28, 1991.

She discovered salsa in 2015 and began partner dancing. Later, she started learning bachata under Jorge Zubieta & Satsuki Amano, performing at numerous events both domestically and internationally, and also working as a lesson assistant.

After giving birth, she participated in her first international competition in 2023.

Drawing on her extensive experience as an English teacher and instructor of intercultural understanding, she strives to create fun and educational lessons that are accessible even to beginners, and to provide bilingual lessons that ensure all participants, including those from overseas, are fully engaged.

Awards

April 2023 (Singapore) Asia WCS Open - 10th Anniversary Newcomer, 4th Place, Novice Finalist

September 2023 (South Korea) Korea Westival Novice Finalist

April 2024 (South Korea) Korean Open WCS Novice 3rd Place

April 2025 (South Korea) Korean Open WCS Novice 1st Place

April 2026 (South Korea) Korean Open WCS Intermediate 3rd Place