Chasing Waves is a new documentary series that explores Japan’s global surf culture, slated to premiere on streaming TV in January. Highlighting people and places that characterise the country’s reach in the international surf industry, the docuseries also gives us a striking glimpse of the diverse regions that makes surfing in Japan one of a kind.
Featuring extraordinary pro surfers Mahina Maeda, Yuma Takanuki, Sara Kohrogi, 2021 Olympic Silver Medallist Kanoa Igarashi, and Australian-Japanese surfer Connor O’Leary, Chasing Waves shines a spotlight on surfing being more than sports and competitions, but an integral part of of someone’s culture and identity. Ahead of its premiere in Australia, find out how you can stream episodes of the new documentary here.
What’s in this Guide?
Chasing Waves documentary preview
Surfing made its Summer Olympics debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. After its successful bid for inclusion comes remarkable characters who believe that surfing is not just a sport, but a way of life.
And so this eight-episode docuseries follows people and places that further bring recognition to Japan and the country’s wonderful surf culture. Every episode examines the diverse regions and endless surf along the over 18,000 miles of coastline that majorly contributes to Japan’s thriving surfing scene.
Engaging and character-driven, Chasing Waves also follows athletes from various cultural backgrounds as they work their hardest to chase their dreams. As a result, audiences will be able to see a captivating picture of Japanese life and the struggles and joys of trying to make it big in the international surf industry.
From the indoor wave pool called the “Ocean Dome” in Miyazaki to the frosty waters of Hokkaido, Chasing Waves paints a vivid picture of Japanese surfing culture through the experiences of those who live it. By listening to their stories, surfing enthusiasts can both resonate and immerse themselves in others’ journey.
Chasing Waves trailer
You can watch the Chasing Waves trailer below.
Chasing Waves TV series release date
Chasing Waves, a new documentary that explores the Japanese surf culture, is set to premiere in Australia on 11th January 2023. It’s also been confirmed that all eight episodes will drop on Disney Plus at once.
| Chasing Waves documentary | Available | Streaming Service |
|---|---|---|
| Episode 1: Chasing The Dream | 11 January 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 2: Weight of a Nation | 11 January 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 3: Rising Tide | 11 January 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 4: Legacy | 11 January 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 5: Power of the Ocean | 11 January 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 6: Ebb and Flow | 11 January 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 7: Undercurrents | 11 January 2023 | Disney Plus |
| Episode 8: Sea of Change | 11 January 2023 | Disney Plus |
What other streaming services is Chasing Waves on?
A brand-new docuseries about Japanese surf culture set to drop on streaming in January, Chasing Waves is a Disney Plus exclusive, hence, it won’t be available elsewhere. Fortunately, the streaming service offers an extensive catalogue of movies and TV shows, so it’s definitely worth getting! From Star Wars and Marvel to Disney and Pixar, as well as Nat Geo and Star, subscribers are treated to heaps of binge-worthy content.
| Streaming Services | Chasing Waves TV series |
|---|---|
| Disney Plus | Yes |
| Foxtel | No |
| Foxtel Now | No |
| BINGE | No |
| Amazon Prime Video | No |
| Paramount+ | No |
| Netflix | No |
| Stan | No |
| Apple TV+ | No |
| Free to air | No |
How to watch Chasing Waves in Australia?
To watch every episode of Chasing Waves, Disney Plus offers exclusive access. New customers can choose between the monthly and the yearly plan, priced at $13.99 and $139.99, respectively. It’s worth noting that their free trial is no longer offered, although there are occasional Disney Plus offers that new customers can take advantage of.
In addition to Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Disney, and National Geographic content, Disney Plus offers the Star channel more content that’s catered to adult audiences. Unfortunately, the docuseries isn’t available on free-to-air.
Stream Chasing Waves on Disney Plus
You can watch the new documentary series instantly on Disney Plus with all episodes streaming at once. New customers will need to sign up for an account to access Disney Plus’ rich catalogue of content, including the best Disney Plus shows and heaps of blockbuster films.
With just a single tier, there’s no need to pick more expensive plans in order to stream simultaneously. Disney Plus allows users to stream on up to four screens at the same time for the monthly price of $13.99. If you want to save a little bit, you can opt for the $139.99 annual plan, which works out to be only around $12 per month.
With so much content to choose from, it’s only about time to join Disney Plus. You can also check out our Disney Plus review to know more about the service and its features.
Get exclusive access to Disney+
Catch the latest releases with Disney+ Standard for $15.99/month. Watch titles from Star, Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Nat Geo, plus live & on-demand sports from ESPN!
Chasing Waves documentary cast
Disney Plus’ new original documentary will feature pro surfers Mahina Maeda, Yuma Takanuki, Sara Kohrogi, Kanoa Igarashi, and Australian-Japanese surfer Connor O’Leary. It’s produced by Boardwalk Pictures and Station 10 Media, with Jason Baffa as director.
Other TV shows on Disney Plus
The Disney Plus library is home to a huge range of must-see TV shows and movies for all tastes and ages from around the world. From drama and action to the best documentaries to new movies, you’re never short of something to watch, all created by the biggest names in entertainment.
New titles are added each and every week so the choice is never an issue. These include hits like Obi-Wan Kenobi, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, and Only Murders in the Building. We have made a few more suggestions when it comes to what’s on Disney Plus below.
Looking for something else? Start searching here.
Streaming devices for watching on Disney Plus
The following is a list of compatible internet-connected devices for which you can stream movies and TV shows on Disney Plus at home or on the go.
Devices supported on Disney+
- Amazon Fire TV: Yes – All Fire TV devices & Fire TV Edition Smart TVs
- Amazon Fire Tablet: Yes – Fire OS 5.0 or later
- Apple TV: Yes – tvOS 11.0 and later; 4th-generation Apple TV
- Foxtel: Yes – Foxtel iQ5, iQ4 or iQ3
- Hubbl: Yes – Hubbl Glass & Hubbl Puck
- Chromecast: Yes – Version 1 and newer; Google Nest Hub and Google Nest Hub Max; Vizio Smart TVs (with built-in Chromecast); Android TV devices
- Chromebook: Yes – via Disney+ Android app
- Roku: Yes – Roku boxes and sticks and TVs
- Android TV: Yes – OS 7.0 or later on Google certified TVs
- LG Smart TV: Yes – LG models running webOS 3.0 and above
- Samsung Smart TV: Yes – 2017 models and newer (Tizen OS)
- Hisense Smart TVs and Toshiba Smart TVs: Yes – with VIDAA OS U6 1.2 and other selected models
- PC: Yes – Web browser only; Chrome (version 75+ on Windows 7 or later); Microsoft Edge (version 79+ on Windows 10 or later); Firefox (version 75+ on Windows 7 or later
- Mac: Yes – Safari 11+ is supported on macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and later; Chrome 75+ is supported on macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) and later; Firefox 75+ is supported on macOS 10.9 (Mavericks) and later
- Android phones/tablets: Yes – Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or later
- iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad: Yes – iOS 15.3 and later
- PlayStation: Yes – PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Xbox: Yes – Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox One S, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Xfinity Flex and X1 TV Box: Yes; select Xfinity X1 models
- Fetch TV: Yes
