About
Boat Race
Bold, quick decisions propel Boat Race to claim its spot as the most exciting motorsport in Japan. Six racers compete at a time, but anyone can get in on the action with publicly managed sports betting. Go for the thrill and get a taste of real-life Japanese culture with a motorsport that got its start here.
Background Info
Boat Race may look sleek and modern, but it’s got over 70 years of history. Take a dive into how this motorsport got to where it is today.
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YM-730 Type Boat
All of the boats in Boat Race are hydroplanes made of wood.
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Basic Rules
Every day of Boat Race has twelve different rounds of races. That’s plenty to get to know how this motorsport works, but get a head start with our guides!
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Your Guide to
Boat Race
Boat Race is where people go to have fun—it’s a leisure activity through and through, whether you’re there to root for your favorite racer, place a bet, or snack on the local eats while traveling across the country.
Boat Race fits in with your sightseeing plans and is a hit with adults and children, visitors and locals alike!
Plan Your Visit
We're glad to see you stop by! What brings you to Boat Race? The thrum and whirr of motorsports, the thrill of betting, the satisfaction of new foods to try and sights to see? Look here for everything you need to plan your day.
View DetailsHow to Bet
Out of six racers in each round, who’s going to win? There’s more to this game than only picking who’s first! There’s a fun variety of ways to a place a bet, and since bets start at only 100 yen, even beginners can enjoy getting in on it.
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Our Racers
There are about 1,600 active racers in Boat Race, including about 250 women. Many racers start young, but Boat Race is the kind of sport that has active racers many decades into their careers. Check out the profiles of our racers and see who might be your next hero.
Shigeru
Matsui
The uncontested king and legend of Boat Race, with lifetime prize money of over 4 billion yen. That sure must help with romantic gestures, like that time he bought a whole flower shop for his wife.
- Date of birth
- 1969/11/11
- Height
- 168 cm
- Weight
- 50 kg
- Home chapter
- Osaka
Itsuko
Hidaka
A passionate, talented veteran of the sport known for supporting up and coming Boat Racers. She's been lauded as "the great mother on the water."
- Date of birth
- 1961/10/07
- Height
- 154 cm
- Weight
- 45 kg
- Home chapter
- Fukuoka
Nami
Nishihashi
A young star on the rise. In addition to being a well-rounded racer, she has well-rounded interests, what with her love of history and background in Japanese archery.
- Date of birth
- 1996/07/19
- Height
- 156 cm
- Weight
- 47 kg
- Home chapter
- Fukui
Ryuta
Mine
A very popular racer. Even when he’s not out there being a star for his racing ability, you’ll still find him on the water—surfing is his favorite hobby.
- Date of birth
- 1985/03/30
- Height
- 173 cm
- Weight
- 51 kg
- Home chapter
- Saga
Yuuki
Sadamatsu
An SG (Special Grade) champion born in the 21st century. That means he's as quick in his career as he is on a boat!
- Date of birth
- 2001/05/02
- Height
- 168 cm
- Weight
- 52 kg
- Home chapter
- Saga
Arisa
Hamada
The winner of the 2023 Queen's Climax, a grand prix held for women alongside their regular Boat Race events. She's married to a fellow Boat Racer, too.
- Date of birth
- 1988/03/19
- Height
- 163 cm
- Weight
- 48 kg
- Home chapter
- Saitama
Locations
&
Schedule
With 24 racetracks across the country and 12 rounds of racing in a day, you won’t miss out on seeing Japan’s most exciting motorsport.
Find which spot will be the best fit for your trip to Japan with venue info, monthly schedules, and guides for how to get there. Get the heads up on special events, too!
Flying
Features
Get started on a Boat Race journey!
This is the page to bookmark for your first visit! It’s a handy beginner’s overview for how to visit a venue, where to sit, how to bet, and more.
Go beyond the betting basics!
We’ve added a new page to walk you through some of the stats you can use to make the best predictions on race outcomes. May the odds be in your favor!
The Beginner’s Guide to Boat Race
Learn the ins and outs of BOAT RACE, how to make your first visit, and how to place bets. It’s all explained over on japan-guide.com, a resource for visitors to Japan.
