Experience the Thrills of the 92nd Japan Derby PR Event with Influencers and Jockeys

The Exciting 92nd Japan Derby PR Event

The Japan Racing Association (JRA) held the PR event for the 92nd Japan Derby on May 26, 2025, featuring vibrant personalities from the world of entertainment and horse racing. The function aimed to enhance the excitement surrounding the Derby scheduled for June 1, 2025. Celebrities like actress Ai Mikami and actor Ryoma Takeuchi joined legendary jockey Yuichi Fukunaga for an engaging day filled with quizzes, experiences, and fun.

A Warm Welcome by Popular Hosts

The event kicked off with the well-known comedy duo TIM, led by Red Yoshida and Golgo Matsumoto, who energized the audience with their humor and enthusiasm for horse racing. The duo, not only fans but also active participants in horse racing media, enlivened the audience by creating amusing human letters on stage.

Following this lively introduction, Mikami, Takeuchi, and Fukunaga appeared on stage, dressed in stylish outfits fitting for the Derby occasion. Mikami sparkled in a deep red dress adorned with roses, while Takeuchi looked sharp in a tailored suit.

Takeuchi Gets Quizzed on Horse Racing

As this year's JRA promotional character, Takeuchi was introduced to the allure of the Japan Derby through a series of challenges in the project called "ROAD TO DERBY." This initiative allowed him to learn about the Derby in an interactive way. The first segment involved a quiz titled "Mikami-Fuku's Quiz Derby," where Mikami and Fukunaga devised questions based on their experiences, testing Takeuchi's knowledge of the Derby.

The first question was posed by Mikami: “What do we all have attached to our chests? A. Derby Bowtie B. Derby Tie C. Derby Ribbon.” Confidently, Takeuchi answered "C. Derby Ribbon,” scoring a correct response. Mikami explained that these ribbons are given out through a lottery called “Welcome Chance!” at the Tokyo Racetrack on Derby Day.

Encouraged by the audience's reactions, Takeuchi moved to the second quiz question posed by Fukunaga: “The Japan Derby is considered one of the 〇〇 for all horsemen, what is it? A. Endless Dream B. Greatest Honor C. Fateful Battle.” While initially seeming confident with his studies, Takeuchi answered "C. Fateful Battle," but unfortunately missed the correct answer, which was "B. Greatest Honor." Fukunaga graciously reassured him, saying that all the answers were valid.

Experiencing the Thrill of Riding

The next part of the event focused on Fukunaga's history as a jockey, highlighting his six Derby wins. A montage of breathtaking moments was presented, adding to the anticipation. In a fun twist, a robotic horse was brought onto the stage, allowing Fukunaga to demonstrate the perfect jockey posture, to the delight of the attendees. Takeuchi then took his turn to ride, enthusiastically mimicking Fukunaga's moves while sporting a jubilant pose.

Awed by the realistic experience, Takeuchi noted how intense it was to balance while riding, adding humor as he remarked on the physical challenges. Following this, he added a rose to the “ROAD TO DERBY” board, confirming his understanding of the jockey's demanding role.

Challenging the Derby Record

The final activity, aptly named “Derby Record Challenge,” had Takeuchi jump on a running machine to experience the speed of the Derby winner, Do Deuce, who recorded an average pace of 60.89 km/h. Excited yet nervous, Takeuchi donned the number bib 13 and set off, ultimately reaching a speed of only 16 km/h on the machine. Realizing the huge difference, he humorously noted how far the horse racing champion's speed surpassed his.

Addled yet triumphant, he affixed the final rose to the panel, marking the completion of his learning journey about the Derby.

Future Derby Enthusiasm

As other participants expressed their excitement for the upcoming Derby event, Mikami remarked on the joy of sharing unique moments with friends and discovering their favorite horses together while Takeuchi looked forward to experiencing the camaraderie and excitement of a large crowd.

To conclude the PR event, all speakers fired off noise-makers to amp up anticipation for the Derby, with Mikami, Takeuchi, and Fukunaga leading the crowd in unison. Their enthusiastic cry of, "On June 1, it's Derby Day!” was met with roaring cheers from the audience.

Event Details

The event was held at Kanda Myojin Hall in Chiyoda, Tokyo, featuring various activities including quizzes, riding simulations, and discussions about the joy of Derby day. This dynamic PR event promised not just to excite fans but also to fully involve them in the love for horse racing as we near the much-anticipated Derby day.