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From fishing as a hobby, to living in the fast lane as a professional boat racer, meet Arisa Osakabe.

Arisa’s love for the water started long before she began her racing career. Growing up, she spent her weekends fishing with her family at Lake Hamanako in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Her recent achievements include racing (and winning preliminary rounds!) in the Grade 3 Queen's Climax Series last December. Follow along as she strives to achieve her next goal of becoming an A1 rank racer.

Explosive action at the Grade 1 70th Anniversary All-Japan Champions Tournament at Boat Race Wakamatsu!

Ishimaru (in the yellow Boat No. 5) swept past with an explosive makuri (outside pass).

But the race takes a shocking turn right away! Ishino (in the blue Boat No. 4) finds incredible acceleration out of the corner and does his own makuri on Ishimaru!!

A makuri to outmaneuver a makuri!? What a rare and thrilling tactic!

Follow for more exciting race action from the world of Boat Race Japan.

Boat racing in Japan is one of the country’s most unique spectator sports—fast-paced, strategic, and incredibly easy to experience.

Entry costs just 100 yen, with no reservations or advance tickets required. From trackside seating, you can witness the adrenaline-pumping speed up close while following the tactics that unfold in each race.

Each event features six racers, where split-second starts and positioning can make all the difference. It’s the kind of sport that naturally invites you to pick a favorite and follow the action all the way to the finish.

Think you can read the race and call the outcome? Plan your visit to a Boat Race Japan venue today!

The 27th Masters Championship Final brought the action and didn’t dissapoint! Did your pick come out on top?

The finalists launched from the pit to the cheers of the crowd at Boat Race Miyajima, and immediately attention was drawn to Shirai (in the red Boat No. 3), as he stood out by opting to start his runup towards the start line from the very back.

His strategy paid off, and he surged forward to a strong start, aggressively approaching the first mark before expertly maneuvering inside with a perfectly timed sashi (inside pass). Kikuchi (in the blue Boat No. 4) also attempted a sashi of his own, making an intense early battle, but Kikuchi ultimately ended up falling behind Shirai as they pulled out of the turn.

Down the straights the race split into two gripping contests. Uryu (in the white Boat No. 1) fending off relentless pressure from Sugiyama (in the yellow Boat No. 5), whilst Ishiwata (in the black Boat No. 2) and Shirai battled it out.

As the four boats approached the second mark, it was Shirai who seized the moment and turned with precision, bursting forward to seize the lead!

Final Results:
🥇 1st: Eiji Shirai (Red Boat No. 3)
🥈 2nd: Masaki Sugiyama (Yellow Boat No. 5)
🥉 3rd: Teppei Ishiwata (Black Boat No. 2)

Did the race unfold like you predicted? Let us know how your pick performed in the comments!

The ultimate race for veteran racers, the PG1 (Premium Grade 1) Masters Championship is just around the corner!

In many other sports, athletes begin to step away as they reach a certain age, but in Boat Race Japan, racers continue to perform at the highest level well beyond 45 - the minimum age for this Masters Championship.

With 52 elite spots filled by defending champions, Masters League winners, and those whose winning rates have stayed in the top spots, this is where experience rises to the top and proves its power.

This year’s final lineup includes:

Boat No. 1 - Masayoshi Uryu: a total of 11 SG wins across his decorated racing career.
Boat No. 2 - Teppei Ishiwata: a back to back Masters Championship Finalist.
Boat No. 3 - Eiji Shirai: winner of the 2025 SG Boat Race Memorial race, with a total of 4 SG wins overall.
Boat No. 4 - Kohei Kikuchi: winner of the 2024 Masters Championship, and a total of 5 SG wins overall.
Boat No. 5 - Masaki Sugiyama: winner of the 2025 3rd Masters League Race.
Boat No. 6 - Keiji Masuda: winner of the 2025 10th Masters League Race.

Who do you think will win the upcoming final? Let us know your pick in the comments below!

Pit-out perfection lead to total domination!

Busujima (in the blue Boat No. 4) brought the action at Boat Race Kiryu, with this super pit-out performance. Launching from the pit, he pulled off an incredible early lane takeover, blasting from his assigned Lane 4 and surging ahead to seize Lane 1.

A high-risk scenario followed: starting from Lane 1 after a takeover often means a “deep start,” limiting one’s ability to accelerate well before the start line. But Busujima made it look easy with a perfectly timed start, leading to a controlled first turn with no gaps, allowing him to escape well into the lead.

Final Results:
🥇 1st: Makoto Busujima (Blue Boat No. 4)
🥈 2nd: Seiya Hasegawa (Red Boat No. 3)
🥉 3rd: Shohei Teramoto (Yellow Boat No. 5)

Would you like to see super pit-outs like this LIVE? Check out full race schedules here to plan your visit! https://boatrace.jp/extent/common/en/locations-and-schedule/

Rookie racers go head-to-head in the Rookie Series SKY PerfecTV! JLC Cup at Boat Race Biwako!

Aoki (in the white Boat No. 1) escapes ahead at the first turn mark, and has to fight to defend his lead from being taken for the rest of the race!

Doi (in the black Boat No. 2) is the first to challenge Aoki’s lead by attempting to get on the leader’s inside.

Naka (in the blue Boat No. 4) is the next to attempt to get into the lead, but Aoki continues to escape ahead.

Under relentless pressure, Aoki holds on until the end to grab victory!

Follow for more exciting race action from the future of boat racing!

Ryuta Mine returns to the top in unforgettable fashion.

His latest SG (Special Grade) triumph at Boat Race Gamagori carries extra meaning - the very same stage where he claimed his last SG title back in October 2023. A full-circle moment that highlights his consistency at the highest level.

This win marks Mine’s 7th SG victory, further cementing his place among the sport’s elite! Coming into the race ranked 68th in this year’s prize money standings, he surged all the way to No. 1 with this win.

A champion’s performance - congratulations Mine!

Who will rise above the rest in the All Ladies Ripple Cup?

Uno (in the white Boat No. 1), Katsuura (in the blue Boat No. 4) and Kuramochi (in the yellow Boat No. 5) all made strong starts, but it was Katsuura who made the decisive move early - accelerating powerfully into a bold makuri to take control of the race.

Taniguchi (in the green Boat No. 6) attempted her own makuri-zashi attack, but Katsuura’s speed and aggression proved unmatched. Charging down the straights, she quickly built an overwhelming lead, leaving the rest of the field in pursuit.

Behind her, the battle for the remaining podium spots intensified, with mere milliseconds between Kuramochi gaining third and Ochiai just falling short!

Final Results:
🥇 1st: Maho Katsuura (Blue Boat No.4)
🥈 2nd: Karen Taniguchi (Green Boat No.6)
🥉 3rd: Riri Kuramochi (Yellow Boat No.5)

Who impressed you the most in this race? Let us know in the comments!