Japan's horse racing, explained for the rest of the world.
Field guides to the racecourses, the betting windows, and the real horses behind the characters — written from Osaka by people who spend their weekends at the rails.
Guides that answer the whole question
Not articles — references. Each guide is written once, kept current, and meant to be the last page you need on its subject.
How Keiba Actually Works
JRA and NAR, race classes and grades, and what a race day is really like — the hub everything else builds on.
Hub guide Read the guide →Betting as a Foreigner
Bet types, how to fill the marksheet, reading the odds board — and what you can and can't do without a Japanese address.
In the paddock Read the guide →Your First Race Day in Japan
Tickets, access, etiquette, food, and what to expect from gate to final furlong. The guide we wish we'd had.
In the paddock Read the guide →Beyond the Racecourse
Retired-horse farms, Northern Horse Park, the JRA museum, and the shrines where fans leave winning tickets.
In the paddock Read the guide →Track by track, from the rails
First-hand guides with real access notes, seating tips, and photos we took ourselves. We start with our home tracks in Kansai.
Hanshin
阪神競馬場Home of the Takarazuka Kinen. Guide in progress — written from many, many Saturdays here.
KansaiKyoto
京都競馬場The stage of the Kikuka Sho, freshly renovated. Guide coming next.
KantoTokyo
東京競馬場Japan Cup territory — the biggest stage in Japanese racing.
KantoNakayama
中山競馬場Where the year ends: the Arima Kinen, racing's grand all-star finale.
From the game to the turf
Met them in Uma Musume? Here's who they really were — careers, quirks, and where their stories live on in Japan today.
Big days ahead
The G1 calendar, race by race — what each one means and why it matters. Full season guide →
This weekend in keiba.
One email every Friday: what's running, why it matters, and one horse worth watching — explained for newcomers. No tips, no spam, just the racing.
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