Japanese News

[Horny Harry]

A Review of JRA Races in the 1st Half of 2002
By Kenichi Nomoto (reporter for the Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
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Manhattan Cafe (by Sunday Silence, USA) bested the 125th Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto Racecourse on April 28.
As the first half of 2002 progressed, Japan's economy finally showed signs that the long recession might be bottoming out. GDP growth stood at 5.7 percent on an annual basis for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001 (January-March), the first positive growth in a year. In May, the government announced that the downturn had ended. However, with overall unemployment hitting 5.2 percent in April, the employment situation remained unoptimistic. With feelings of uncertainty cropping up in the U.S. economy at the beginning of June, there was still no solution for such negative elements as dependence on exports to the U.S. and a lack of consumer confidence.
The FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by Japan and South Korea, impacted greatly on leisure trends. Held for the first time in Asia, this major event attracted broad interest not limited to soccer fans and received lively coverage in the mass media. Professional baseball rearranged its June schedule in an effort to minimize the impact. But with considerably less media exposure, the horse racing industry was unable to avoid the side effects. As of June 9, JRA's turnover was down 4.3 percent compared to the previous year.
3-year-olds Vie for Leading Spot
Let's review race trends for the first half of this year. The free-for-all continued in the closely-watched Classic events for 3-year-olds. Few match-ups between leading horses and many horses compiling good records resulted in no clear front-runner as late as March. The winner of the March Spring Stakes (GII), Tanino Gimlet (by Brian's Time, USA), was considered the top contender, but the colt placed third in his next race, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas, GI), despite a hard charge from behind. The victor was another Brian's Time offspring, No Reason, who after debuting with two consecutive wins, then finished seventh in the Wakaba Stakes trial. A lottery for entry into the Satsuki Sho was held among seven horses with two wins, with two horses permitted entry. No Reason, guided by jockey Brett Doyle who came to Japan from the U.K. after obtaining a short-term license, was permitted entry. Second place finisher Tiger Cafe (by Sunday Silence, USA) was ridden by Italian jockey Mirco Demuro. This was the first time in a Classic race that horses ridden by foreign jockeys occupied the top two places.
Yutaka Take's injuries from a fall at the end of February were a factor in bringing this sort of situation about. Take demonstrated a phenomenal recovery and attempted a comeback at the end of April. Backed by overwhelming support, he rode Tanino Gimlet in the May NHK Mile Cup (GI), trying for the first win by a Japan-bred horse. However, he placed third again after encountering a fatal disadvantage, two other horses blocking his way on the straight. The winner was Telegnosis, another Japan-bred horse and one of Tony Bin's offspring. After losing to Tanino Gimlet and placing second by a 0.1-second margin in the Spring Stakes, Telegnosis skipped the Satsuki Sho due to fatigue, but recovered to compete in this race, and for the first time since the race began seven years ago, overcame the foreign-bred horses' hold on the title. His sire, Tony Bin (IRE, by Kampala, GB), died in March the year before last, but his other offspring have fared well both last year and this, with Jungle Pocket taking last year's Japan Cup and Lady Pastel grabbing the Oaks' crown.
Tanino Gimlet was again the favorite in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, GI). The tough schedule of successive starts in the Satsuki Sho, NHK Mile Cup and Japanese Derby drew some criticism, but Tanino Gimlet demonstrated his physical and mental strength in the most important race with a stirring charge down the homestretch. Owner Yuzo Tanimizu is the current chairman of the Japan Owners' Association and his late father, Nobuo, was the owner of the winning horses in the 1968 and 1970 Derbys. Symboli Kris S (USA, by Kris S, USA) placed second. The Japanese Derby was partially opened to foreign-trained horses last year, and the fifth place finish by Kurofune (USA, by French Deputy, USA) was the best result. With a Japanese horse winning the NHK Mile Cup and a foreign horse taking second in the Derby, horse racing entered a new stage of globalization this year.
Meanwhile, the free-for-all among 3-year-old fillies exceeded that among the colts. A whole series of preliminaries ended up inconclusively and Queen Cup (GIII) winner Shinin' Ruby (by Sunday Silence) was the favorite in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas, GI), due in part to expectations related to jockey Yukio Okabe's quest to win all of the eight former major races. However, thanks partly to the effects of having shed 24kg, she fell to a third place finish. Breaking away from a fine starting position in the number three gate, Arrow Carry (by Last Tycoon, IRE) won. This horse moved to JRA after debuting in local Hokkaido races. In last year's Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (GI) she charged to a hard-fought second place finish.
Shinin' Ruby was again the favorite in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, GI), but placed fifth. Ridden well by jockey Yutaka Yoshida, Smile Tomorrow (by White Muzzle, GB) came from behind for the win. Chapel Concert (by Sunday Silence) took second. Overall, the race progressed at a sluggish pace.
Older Horse Category Dominated
by 4-year-olds
Among older horses, 4-year-olds are currently the focus. With consecutive GII victories since the beginning of this year, Narita Top Road (by Soccer Boy) was the favorite for the Tenno Sho (Spring, GI), but Manhattan Cafe (by Sunday Silence) took the early lead in the race and gained his third GI victory by a neck, holding off Yutaka Take on Jungle Pocket. Narita Top Road trailed in third place. After last year's win in the Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix, GI), he suffered an inexplicable sixth place defeat in the Nikkei Sho (GII) in March, but recovered in the distance race that is his forte. There is an interval of nearly two months between the Tenno Sho and Takarazuka Kinen (GI) and because the temperature is also high in June it was decided early on not to run Narita Top Road and Manhattan Cafe, while the only one left, Jungle Pocket, was pulled 10 days before the race due to concerns about his legs. With Air Shakur (by Sunday Silence) the only entry with a GI victory, the Takarazuka Kinen ended up with a sub-par line-up. Fresh off a second-place finish in the Yasuda Kinen (GI), Dantsu Flame (by Brian's Time), who finished second in last year's Satsuki Sho and Derby, was the favorite and responded to the fans' support in the race. It was his first victory in six GI races. Tsurumaru Boy (by Dance in the Dark), another 4-year-old, finished second.
2002 (January to June) JRA and Local Government
Racing and Betting
JRA Local Government
Racing Days 120 920
Total Gross Turnover 1,492,304,137,500 YEN 243,833,694,800 YEN
Daily Average Gross Sales 12,435,867,800 YEN 265,036,625 YEN
Total Attendance (On-course) 4,505,846 3,960,808
Total Number of Starters 21,320 98,191
Japan-based Horses Fair Well in Sprint,
Mile Events
Interest was focused on how horses that were active internationally would do in the sprint and mile events, but in the end Japan-based horses took the titles. Shonan Kampf (by Sakura Bakushin O), as yet without a graded race victory, won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (GI) flying away. This meant that three generations of Japan-bred horses Ñ Sakura Yutaka O (by Tesco Boy, GB), Sakura Bakushin O and Shonan Kampf Ñ had achieved GI crowns. Admire Cozzene (by Cozzene, USA) came in second, showing signs of a return to form by the top 2-year-old of 1998. Next, at the Yasuda Kinen, attention was focused on Agnes Digital (USA, by Crafty Prospector, USA), and Eishin Preston (USA, by Green Dancer, USA) who won a GI event at the Hong Kong International races at the end of last year.
Agnes Digital had an easy win at the February Stakes (GI), a February domestic GI dirt race. He traveled to the Dubai World Cup (GI) in high spirits, but came in sixth there, partly due to physical problems. He later faced off against Eishin Preston at Hong Kong's Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (GI) and lost. Agnes Digital finished second. Agnes Digital subsequently was given a break to recuperate and was not entered in the Yasuda Kinen. Eishin Preston entered as the favorite after returning to Japan, but was unable to get his engine in gear, placing fifth despite charging up from behind. The victory went to Admire Cozzene, who had started from a favorable position. After winning the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes (now the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, GI) at the age of 2, Admire Cozzene suffered fractures of both forelegs and was forced to recuperate for a year and eight months. He had found it quite difficult to regain his former strength after returning, but this year gained a long-awaited win in the Tokyo Shimbun Hai (GIII) at the end of January. He followed with another victory in the Hankyu Hai (GIII) and second place in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. He was ridden by Hiroki Goto, who the year before last had achieved 100 wins, a JRA record held only by 16 people, but had no GI victories and attained his first win on the 54th try.
Sales of the new types of pari-mutuel bets, the Trio and Exacta, will begin in earnest during the latter half of the year, but because the very popular Tokyo Racecourse is closed for renovations, it appears that JRA will continue to face tough prospects from an operational standpoint.
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[Horny Harry]

Japanese stocks close at 19-year low
September 4 2002
Stocks in Tokyo closed at a new 19-year low today after its key index lost 1.5 per cent, that on top of a 3 per cent slide yesterday. Today's close was the lowest since September 17, 1983, when the market ended at 9,010.08
The benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 141.95 points, or 1.54 percent, to close at 9,075.09 today, hitting the 19-year low. Yesterday, the Nikkei fell 304.59 points, or 3.12 percent.
The Nikkei also briefly fell below the psychologically important 9,000-point level during today's trading.
The US dollar was trading at 117.38 yen at 3 pm today, down 0.24 yen from late yesterday in Tokyo, but above its late New York level of 117.12 yen overnight.
In New York, stocks tumbled yesterday, as investors grew skittish over unfavourable developments in the US economy, ranging from lower-than-expected manufacturing activity to brokerage downgrades of Citigroup Inc and Ford Motor Co.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 355.45, or 4.1 percent, at 8,308.05 yesterday, its fifth straight day of decline. It was the largest one-day loss since July 19, when the Dow fell 390.23.
The Nasdaq composite index declined 51.01, or 3.9 percent, to 1,263.84, after falling 4.8 percent in the previous week to end three weeks of gains.
The broader Tokyo Stock Price Index also extended its losses today. TOPIX closed down 17.85 points, or 1.97 percent, at 886.39, the lowest finish since December, 1984.
On Tuesday, TOPIX lost 26.12 points, or 2.81 percent, to close at 904.24, an 18-year-low.
Companies and some financial institutions sold stocks to avoid extra losses in the September interim accounting period, traders said.
Decliners included automakers such as Toyota and Honda, as well as high-technology firms including Toshiba, Sony, and NTT.
In currencies, the dollar slipped as investors adjusted positions.
The euro traded at 116.84 yen in mid-afternoon trading, up from 116.25 yen late yesterday in Tokyo. Against the US dollar, the euro was quoted at 99.54 cents, up from 98.47 cents.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year government bond was trading at 1.2100 percent at mid-afternoon, up from yesterday's close of 1.1800 percent. Its price fell 0.27 to 100.80.

[Horny Harry]

Quake hits Japan
An earthquake measuring an estimated 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted northern Japan early today, the Meteorological Agency said.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injury.
The focus of the quake, which struck around 4.09am local time (0509 AEST), was located about 10km below ground in Miyagi, some 400km north of Tokyo, the agency said.
AFP

[Horny Harry]

Gold Coast jockey Chris Whiteley will kick off his riding stint in Japan this Thursday.
Whiteley will ride for five days straight in Tokyo and has been booked for 20 rides so far at those meetings.
Fellow Gold Coast jockey Dean Tanti who was set to head to Japan with Whiteley has had his trip delayed until September 26.
By: Ray See - Tuesday, 10 September 2002

[imaufo]

JAIR's own, Ms. Hanako Sonobe, enters the starting-gate for the "Darley Flying Start"


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Ms. Hanako Sonobe, chatting with an international horse, Agnes Digital

Darley Stud Management Co., Ltd. sponsored by Sheikh Mohammed commences the Darley International Student Programme named the "Darley Flying Start".
This Student Programme is open for young people from throughout the world, who wish to become active leaders in the future of the horseracing business. This generous opportunity is provided by of Sheikh Mohammed based on his concept that all participants should go through advanced training in all types of practical, hands-on experience and receive a systematic education ranging from breeding to the actural racing of thoroughbreds.

The goal of this Programme is to rear excellent horsemen to take important roles in the world of horseracing. At the same time, they will also be provided with the experience necessary to produce worldl class horses that will retain excellent pedigrees and to otherwise contribute to the evolution to a higher level of horseracing around the world.

Duration of the Programme will be two years . The first class will be starting from the 18th of August at Kildangan Stud in Ireland.

Necessary expenses will be provided by Darley Flying Start. These include travel costs, accommodation fees during the Programme and a monthly allowance of 600 sterling pounds is provided to each participant to cover food and incidental expenses.

The initial number of participants had been set eight, but subsequently the number was extended to 12. Ms. Hanako Sonobe of JAIR (the Japan Association for International Horse Racing) has been selected and is the only one from Japan.

The regional breakdown of the participants by country is : two from U.K., two from Australia, two from Ireland, one from Japan, one from France, one from Germany, one from Malaysia, one from the U.S.A. and one from the Ukraine. The participants ages range between 20 and 27. There are seven males and five females.

Many applications from all over the world had been received right up to the deadline of March the 15th and severely screened. The final list of participants was just recently announced.

It is our understanding that the minimum age to apply is 18 years old and there is no maximum age. This year, there were applications from 28 different countries, but the number of applications by individual country has not been released.

The initial selection was based on written applications and references. 79 applicants were subsequently interviewed and the final 12 were selected from that group.

At the interview session, one interviewer from Australia came to Japan and interviewed five people. Most of them were non-Japanese, who are working in Japan.




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Ms. Hanako Sonobe during her horse trekking

After graduation from High School in Tokyo, Hanako studied about horses in England for five years .
She attended Hartpury College (National Certificate in the Management of Horses) In 1995, going on to study at the Royal Veterinary College in London for a year and further pursuing her studies at the University of West of England, graduating with a BSc in Equine Science in 2000.

After returning to Japan, she entered the Japan Association for International Horse Racing in April 2001.

During her working in the Association, she has on occasion worked as an interpreter for Kieren Fallon, Mick Kinane, Oliver Peslier, Mirco Demuro and Damian Oliver, while they were riding in Japan.

She has also worked as a liaison between local racing authorities and Japanese horse connections on the occasion of Japanese horses going to race abroad.

She started riding horses at a riding club near her home when she was 15 years old and has been competing with her own horse in Show Jumping at the national level.

She said 'I hardly expected to be selected for the Programme. Even though I had wanted to continue my education on horses, I could not afford the tuition fees. I would like to thank the people who have given me the chance for this fantastic opportunity.'

'I would like to meet as many people as possible and make connections in this industry and really hope that I will be able to contribute to the racing industry after the two years.'

[Handy Harry]

By Colin Joyce in Tokyo
September 8, 2003

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo used to declare its budget on a single piece of paper, with only the barest of details.

Now a new book has given Japan an unprecedented glimpse into royal life - and how Emperor Akihito spends his annual $A370 million of public money.
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Revealed for the first time is a staff list that includes four doctors on call 24 hours a day, five men who attend to his wardrobe and 11 who assist him in Shinto rites.

In all, Japan's royal family commands a legion of more than 1000 people, including a 24-piece orchestra, 30 gardeners, 25 cooks and 78 plumbers, electricians and builders.

The main Imperial Palace in Tokyo, home to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, requires 160 servants to keep it running - partly because of rules such as the one that decrees a maid who wipes a table cannot also wipe the floor, The Imperial Family Purse says. Meanwhile, the Emperor and his family run up a monthly water bill of $120,000.

The book, which is opening up public debate about the role of the imperial family, draws on about 200 documents made available for the first time under a new public information law.

Until now, facts about spending were hidden behind the so-called Chrysanthemum Curtain, which keeps secret much of the Japanese royal family's life.

"Compared to the time when no information was available, this is an epochal step forward," writes the book's author, Yohei Mori, former royal correspondent for the newspaper Mainichi. Even so, the Imperial Household Agency refused to respond to follow-up questions last week.

Mori points out that as well as the Emperor's own doctors, his palace has a $5 million-a-year clinic with 42 staff and eight medical departments, but only 28 visitors a day. The room in which Crown Princess Masako gave birth to Princess Aiko two years ago was redecorated beforehand at a cost of $350,000.

A special 961-strong police force guards the imperial family and their residences at a cost of $120 million.

The Japanese imperial family consists of an inner court of six: the Emperor and Empress; Princess Sayako, their unmarried daughter; Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako and their daughter.

But the civil list covers a further 19 family members who also live in imperial residences, although they are not forbidden to hold other jobs or run businesses.

Prince Tomohito, a cousin of the Emperor, and his wife and two daughters, both university students, receive a total of $765,000 a year, even though their royal duties are light and few Japanese even know who they are.

Mori, whose book has sold 36,000 copies so far, says debate about the imperial purse has been stifled by secrecy and a lack of scrutiny by the politicians who approve the budget.

The Telegraph, London


This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/07/1062901944264.html

[Handy Harry]

From February 27 through March 7, 2003, JRA President M. Takahashi (third from right) attended the Asian Racing Conference in Auckland, New Zealand, and traveled in Australia, receiving a warm welcome from people involved in horseracing wherever he went. When President Takahashi visited Sydney, Australian Jockey Club executives presented him with a membership card in a gesture intended to convey both their appreciation of the long-standing close relationship between the club and the JRA as well as their hope for ongoing cooperation.

Upon his admittance as the first non-Australian to become a member of the club, President Takahashi commented, "It is a tremendous honor to be the first non-Australian member of the Australian Jockey Club. I will continue to work toward the development of horseracing in Australia and Japan."

[imaufo]

September 13, 2003

Under the shade of a ginkgo tree offering respite from the sweltering Tokyo sun, Yukio Hoshikawa was reading his afternoon newspaper. In a few moments, the 74-year-old pensioner would make the short journey into the green-roofed sumo stadium to watch the final and best bouts of the day.

This is the practice of experienced fans: skip the early bouts of the lesser knowns, and turn up to watch the stars.

Today, the final bout would involve Asashoryu, a yokozuna (grand champion).

Despite his status as a great of the sport, Asashoryu couldn't expect any support from Mr Hoshikawa. "In my view, sumo is like a samurai life, embodying bushido, the way of the samurai. Asashoryu should behave like a samurai, and not be such a sissy," he said.

Sissy? A grand sumo champion? What could Asashoryu have done to deserve this sort of tongue lashing?

Plenty. In his 10-month elevation to the sport's highest level, Asashoryu - whose name means "Blue Dragon of the Morning" - has managed to stir up an unprecedented controversy.

The 22-year-old Mongolian was recently described by one sports writer as the "bully from the land of Genghis Khan".

First, he began glaring at the judges if a decision went against him. Then, at the last tournament in Nagoya in July, he was disqualified from a bout when he grabbed the top-knot in the hair of a fellow Mongolian, Kyokushuzan - a big taboo. It was the first time a grand champion had been disqualified.

That was followed by a verbal confrontation between the pair while they were soaking in the baths after the bout.

It became a national issue. The Japan Sumo Association received a bomb threat, and threats of assaults on Asashoryu were made. The grandfather of Japan's cabinet, 81-year-old Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa, offered advice to the wrestler on issues inside and outside the ring.

Makiko Uchidate, who sits on the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, which recommends elevation to grand champion, recently spoke out against Asashoryu's behaviour, and argued the need to protect the Japanese values of sumo, which has its roots in Shintoism.

"It is a game that has a sense of beauty of the Japanese in its core, with a competitive factor and a religious factor. A yokozuna has to keep them completely," she said recently.

This touches upon the delicate subject of the foreign invasion of sumo and Japan's recent inability to produce a home-grown champion.

Japanese xenophobia has never been far from the surface in this controversy. "Go back to Mongolia," read placards in the crowd when the hair-pulling incident occurred.

It was a quick descent into controversy for Asashoryu, whose real name is Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj. When he was elevated to grand champion in July, he became the first non-Japanese or non-American to do so. He did so relying more on skill than bulk.

After a number of losses this year, with this tournament he has returned to his winning ways. And so far, there has been no sign of his bad-boy behaviour.

At the very least, the Blue Dragon has breathed some fire into a sport that has struggled against declining popularity in recent years.


This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/12/1063341769936.html

[imaufo]

JRA first half-year result down

The JRA announced their half yearly results on 15 June showing total attendance down 6% to 4.35 million with total betting of approximately \1 trillion 429 billion (over US$10 billion), 94.2% of the previous result. However, it was not all bad news with four G1 races showing an increase in turnover on the previous year and telephone betting up by a respectable16%. <20JUNE03

[Handy Harry]

Typhoon No. 10 inflicts unprecedented damage
on Hidaka breeding region


It is now about one month since Typhoon No. 10 ripped through the Hidaka region, Japan's largest region for horse breeding, causing unprecedented damage.

In all areas of Hidaka, work continues restoring railways and roads and drift timber is being removed from the rivers. The lifelines to the affected area following the typhoon and the restoration work is slowly helping Hidaka return to its former self.

On Aug. 10th, just about one month ago, Typhoon No. 10, after cutting across the Japanese archipelago, came aground in Hidaka near Cape Erimo, bringing with it torrential rains to all areas of the region and inflicting tremendous damage.

Every year, from summer to fall, the Japan archipelago is visited by any number of typhoons, many of which come aground and cause a great deal of damage.

The typhoons, however, tend to keep to certain paths.

They are almost always expected to hit the south and west of Japan, but tend to weaken before reaching the north of Japan, and are usually downgraded to the ordinary low pressure weather. And often, the storms tend to change course and move away from Japan.

It is extremely rare for a typhoon to cut through the archipelago and make it as far north as the island of Hokkaido.

In areas frequently hit by typhoons, measures are taken to keep damage to a minimum. In areas unaccustomed to being visited by typhoons, however, the damage inflicted can be enormous.

This was the case with Typhoon No. 10.



Typhoon damage


According to initial reports by the Hokkaido Local Government , flooding rivers cut off many rail lines and roads in the Hidaka region. Homes were swept away and people killed or reported missing.
The Hidaka trunk line, which runs along the southern coast of the island, was covered by earth, water or debris in some 120 spots, making it impassable. Also, the rail bridge across the Niikappu River was damaged and rails reported hanging in midair.

The greatest damage was done to the central and southern regions of Hidaka.

Niikappu, Monbetsu and Biratori, an area with a high concentration of lush Thoroughbred breeding grounds, suffered severe damage.

Some 60 farms are located along the Atsubetsu River, which runs through the region. From the evening of Aug. 9th until late into the night, massive amounts of water mixed with dirt and sand overflowed the river banks and swept onto the farms.

Naturally, many barns in the flooded farm areas were carried away in the current. Several horses, among them Brian's Time offspring, were swept to their deaths or never found.

"It was all we could do to save ourselves. There was no time to get to the barns and let out the horses," said one breeder as he remembers the terror.

His farm lost several horses. They were never found.

Barns were filled with massive amounts of dirt and sediment and buildings were severely damaged. Fences were destroyed in the current and the rivers became clogged with varying sizes of wood fragments, trees and other debris.

Farms in the area remain a dark brown color, covered with dirt and sediment.

"I can't even begin to say how many days and how much effort and expense is going to be needed to recover from this," the same farm owner said in complete dejection.



Total damages estimated at $500 million


Reports, one month after the onslaught of the typhoon, now reveal the full extent of the damage.
According to the Hokkaido Local Government, damages incurred by Typhoon No. 10 are estimated at approximately US$500 million.

Reconstruction costs to repair damage to public infrastructure(not included rivers and roads) is estimated at $300 million, with the damage to crops and farms set at $133 million. Forestry damage is estimated at $60 million.

When damage to the fishery industry and other businesses included, the total damages are estimated at $500 million.

Over 80 percent of that amount was incurred by the Hidaka region.



17 horses killed, 320 others evacuated


In the Thoroughbred industry alone, some 140 farms were affected, and 17 horses killed. Over 320 horses were forced to be evacuated or otherwise seek refuge due to flooding of farms and stables.
The disaster area has received assistance from all over Japan.

As an initial emergency measure, the JRA's Hidaka Yearing Training Farm and the Japan Blood Horse Breeders' Association have provided 30 rolls and 36 rolls of hay, respectively, to the area. Mejiro Farm, a major breeding farm located in Iburi, has provided 100 rolls of straw to Hidaka's worst hit areas, Niikappu, Monbetsu and Biratori.

To help farms recover, the Hidaka Breeders Association has set up the "Charity Institution assisting Thoroughbred Breeders hitted by Typhoon No. 10" (headed by Toshiaki Maekawa, chairman of the Hidaka Breeders Association). The institution is acting to collect and distribute funds to the disaster victims.

Hidaka had already been suffering from a longterm economic depression.

This latest blow, along with (it would be no exaggeration to say) the panic of the current economic situation, comes as a crippling blow. The region has suffered a double punch and is absolutely reeling.

Furthermore, Hidaka now faces its second harvest of hay and preparations must be made for weaning this year's crop of foals.

The ravages of the typhoon are great, yet, amidst them, duties call and there is no time to wait.

[imaufo]

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Japanese economy stuns observers with growth spurt
The Japanese economy has stunned financial markets by growing at its fastest rate in more than a decade.

The world's second largest economy has been mired in recession for much of the last decade, but now gross domestic product is expanding rapidly.

In the last three months of 2003, GDP grew by 1.7 per cent, an annualised gain of 7 per cent.

That is significantly more than the financial markets had been expecting, and reflects strong exports to China and the United States.

Japan is Australia's biggest customer, so its apparent recovery is a bonus for Australian exporters.

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[imaufo]

Japan parliament to consider bill expanding wagering opportunities

Wagering on horse racing in Japan would be available at all betting booths nationwide under a bill expected to be considered during the current session of the Japanese National Diet, the nation’s parliament.

Betting on races hosted by the Japan Racing Association and on local races is currently only allowed when the groups send their own officials to each other’s betting booths.

The reform would also lift a ban on students aged 20 or older from gambling on horse racing and would allow racetracks to offer daily doubles, the Yomiuri Shimbun reports.

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[imaufo]

http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/library/journal/v12n1/photo_01.jpg

New Grandstand at Tokyo Racecourse

Trifectas to begin this summer

Total budget 2004 to drop below 3 trillionYEN for the first time in 14 years

50th anniversary jubilee and other memorial events to be held throughout the year

Two JC races scheduled for November 28

Races restricted to horses sired by Japanese-bred stallions to be cut by half, and races restricted to female horses to be increased


The Japan Racing Association (JRA) has announced its business plan and racing fixtures for 2004, the year of 50th anniversary of its foundation. JRA plans to host many anniversary events throughout the year, including the Japan Cup and the Japan Cup Dirt, on the same day. Races restricted to horses sired by Japanese-bred stallions will be reduced, while races restricted to fillies and mares will be increased. JRA has also decided to offer trifecta betting tickets, beginning this summer.


JRA's total revenues and expenses budgeted for 2004 amount to 2,886,962,752,000,YEN of which the turnover of pari-mutuel betting tickets constitutes 2,823,577,400,000.YEN This budget has decreased for the sixth consecutive year, down 5.3 percent from the previous year, below the benchmark of 3 trillionYEN for the first time in 14 years.

Racing fixtures

The official racing fixtures for 2004 begin with the east and west Kimpai, the Nikkan Sports Sho Nakayama Kimpai (at Nakayama Racecourse) and the Sports Nippon Sho Kyoto Kimpai (at Kyoto Racecourse), both on January 5, as is customary, and finishing with the Arima Kinen (the Grand Prix), on December 26. As in the past, there will be 36 race meetings, covering 288 racing days.

The Oka Sho, Japanese 1000 Guineas

As part of the internationalization plan for classic races that JRA has pursued since 2000, it will allow two foreign-bred horses to enter the Oka Sho, Japanese 1000 Guineas.

Two international races to be increased

The Yomiuri Milers Cup (GII, at Hanshin Racecourse) on April 17 and the CBC Sho (GII, at Chukyo Racecourse) on December 19 will be added to the international races this year. Five of the 18 starters at the Yomiuri Milers Cup, and 4 of the 16 posts at the CBC Sho will be allowed to foreign-bred horses from overseas.

Composition of mixed races

Mixed races include both domestic-bred horses and foreign-bred horses which have not raced outside of Japan, and continue to make up about 55 percent of all JRA races.

Races with runners limited to those sired by Japanese-bred stallions

JRA's incentive policy of encouraging horses sired by Japanese-bred stallions has almost accomplished its initial purpose, so the yearly total of 80 races restricted to such horses will be cut by half and reduced to 40 races. The remaining 40 races will be added to the races restricted to fillies and mares.

50th anniversary jubilee and other events

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the foundation of JRA, for which a jubilee and other events will be held throughout the year and the following specific measures will be taken for the racing programs.

50th Anniversary Memorial Race.
JRA will host races to mark the 50th anniversary of its foundation at all of its 10 racecourses nationwide, which will include many other interesting events to express JRA's thanks to horseracing fans on the same day.

Golden Jubilee Day. To finish up with the 50th anniversary, JRA's jubilee day is scheduled for November 28, on which date the Japan Cup and the Japan Cup Dirt will be held.

Special races. Every Sunday JRA will include in its racing programs special races to award crown cups in the names of representative horses for each year and other meritorious horses since 1954, to look back at the 50 years of Japanese horseracing history and to commemorate these horses.

Eligibility to be reviewed

To ensure the eligibility of three- and four-year-olds, horses that are six years old and older will be ineligible to run in races at Tokyo, Nakayama, Kyoto, and Hanshin racecourses which are major venues, unless they have earned over 4 millionYEN for a total amount of prize money.

To increase the number of horses eligible for handicap races, the period in which they can run in such races will be extended to one year from the current eligibility of 19 weeks (4 months) at a maximum.

Races restricted to young jockeys

To provide more opportunities to young jockeys and apprentices, JRA will include in its racing programs such races as to limit riders to young jockeys with experience of less than 6 years and with up to 100 wins since gaining their licenses.

Introduction of trifectas

Trifectas are bets on the straight order of first-, second-, and third-place winning horses in a race. The sale of pari-mutuel trifecta tickets will begin this summer.


-- JRJ editorial office--


G1 Racing Fixtures in 2004
- Races with First Prize of 100 Million Yen or more Added Money -

http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/journal/v12n1/main.html

[imaufo]

From AP


June 03, 2004

THE image of the cartwheel-turning schoolboys pops up in the dark tunnel outside the fast-moving subway train car in Japan's first advertising using a US system that counts on the eye's ability to blend a series of still images into a movie.

The 15-second ad for a Japanese drink uses technology from Submedia of the United States, which has 150 backlit displays lined up next to each other along the tunnel's wall.

What the commuter sees out of the window of the moving car resembles a TV ad playing in the tunnel, working on the low-tech principle of a flipbook. There is no sound – except for the rattle of the subway – and you almost have to be waiting for it not to miss it.

The advertising was shown to reporters Wednesday ahead of its start in a Tokyo subway Thursday.

"It's coming from a black space where you're not used to having something," said Douglas Woodring, chief executive of Submedia Asia. "That's when you catch people's attention."

He refused to say how much the ad costs. But at a time when the effectiveness of TV ads is increasingly dubious, people in transit are a good target for entertaining ads, Woodring said.

Similar Submedia systems are running in New York, Atlanta and Hong Kong.

Its potential is enormous for Tokyo, a city where more than 7.6 million people use the crowded, crisscrossing metro network a day.

Advertisers are already vying for commuters' attention. Posters are plastered across walls and hanging from ceilings. Entire exteriors of trains have been painted with advertising, and some Tokyo trains have TV monitors on the walls that show ads.

About 370,000 people will be able to see the new subway ad a day, according to Submedia. The sequence shows two youngsters turning cartwheels together down a path to their school and raising their arms in joy at the end of their trip.

Shuri Fukunaga, managing director at Burson-Marsteller in Tokyo, a communications consulting company, says the ad is almost certain to catch attention because it brings a bit of entertainment, like an amusement-park ride, into the subway.

"Traditional advertising has been hurt by the proliferation of the Internet and other new communication means. But with ads like this in the subway, the city of Tokyo is being viewed as one big advertising space," she said.

AP

[cheesebeast]

Japan's Horse Racing Law
revised for the first time in 13 years



The latest revision to the Horse Racing Law was approved in a regular plenary session of the Lower House on June 3. It was the first amendment made to the statute in the 13 years since 1991.
Already presented as a government-sponsored bill during a regular session of the Diet, the amendment had been given prior consideration and had been approved by the Upper House on April 21. After being sent to the Lower House, however, the uproar over pension reform bills served to delay deliberation. At long last, the revision finally received approval.

The objective of the law's revision is to help increase the efficiency of the racing industry, raise revenues and increase profitability. The turnover from racing wagers has dropped and along with the recent sluggish economy, has resulted in an ensuing decrease in state funds and the funds for regional municipal organizations.

JRA turnover reached a peak of 4 trillion yen ($36.4 billion) in 1997. Since then, for the last six years, it has dropped steadily. Last year, revenue just barely amounted to 3 trillion yen. Hard times have continued in Local Government Racing as well. Operations in the red have forced the closing of six municipally run racetracks.

The major drop in betting turnover is directly linked to the National Treasury payment. If turnover drops 1 trillion yen ($9 billion) for example, this will result, roughly figured, in a 100 billion yen ($0.9 billion) decrease in state funds. Naturally, this is no trivial matter and, as such, is a matter of national concern.

Developments related to the bill's amendment will take place after Jan. 1 of next year, following a revision of related government and ministerial ordinances.




Major Points of the Racing Law Revision

Three of the five areas of revisions are of significance.
The first deals with betting. In addition to the possibility of bets being introduced that will allow fans to pick the winners in multiple races, the deduction made on the return for bets on single horses to win, as well as bets to place and show, will be officially lowered.

This amendment shows a revival of the so-called serial race wager in Japan. Such forms of betting, such as picking the winners of multiple races, were first introduced in 1951 but later abolished in 1961, as it was believed they focused too strongly on the strict gambling aspect of the sport, something which was considered undesirable in Japan.

At the time, a serial race wager to pick the winners of three designated races was offered. In order to help draw fans to the racetrack, this wager was only sold in the morning.

The current amendment contains the wording, "the winning horse and others," indicating that serial race wagers involving a series of races need not be limited to bets to win but may also involve other types of serial race wagers, i.e. picking the second and, possibly, third-place finishers of multiple races.

The JRA, however, has pointed out that "the chances of successfully picking multiple-placed finishers in a series of races are so low as to likely make such bets unpopular with the fans."

"If such wagers are to be introduced they will likely involve the selection of only the winners of three races. Taking into consideration that developing the necessary software takes time, such wagers are not likely to be introduced until after next year."

As the JRA is just introducing a new form of exotic bet, the trifecta, from this summer, serial race bets are not expected to be introduced for quite some time.

Serial race wagers are available in other countries; England has its "Jackpot" and the U.S. has its "Pick Six" (pick the winners of six races). However, unlike Europe and the U.S., Japan has taken great pains over many long years to carefully cultivate its gambling population though a wide variety of wagers which serve the fans' interests. The introduction of new wagers will most likely be done gradually, over an extended period of time.

Also related to betting was a revision in the official deduction made from the total betting turnover before paybacks are calculated. The deduction on all bets was officially set at 25 percent. However, the return on bets on single horses to win, place or show enjoyed a JRA "rebate," a special business measure that allowed for an additional 5 percent to be returned to the bettors. This meant that, in effect, only 20 percent was being deducted from the revenue before being figured in to the return. With the revision, the deduction will be now officially set at 20 percent for bets to win, place and show with the new revision.




The Second Revision

The second revision involves the sale of racing tickets to students. Until now, all students were barred from betting, regardless of the student's age. The change will now allow students 20 years or older to bet.



The Third Revision

The third revision involves municipally run horseracing. Japan's racing industry is comprised of two systems, JRA-sponsored racing and racing organized by local governments. On the local level, each racetrack has been responsible for the sale of its own racing tickets, the sale of which had to be administered by each body itself. The revision allows the sale of tickets to be entrusted to another party.
The law now addresses sales from both perspectives, that of the JRA and that of the municipally run racing establishments. The revision states that "the JRA can entrust sales to locally run racing authorities or to a private organization" and also that "local racing authorities can entrust sales to the JRA or a private organization."

The present situation of locally run racing in Japan is dire. An assessment of the situation, with an aim to its fundamental reorganization has focused on the following main points:

(1) The promotion of a nationwide racing administration such as the JRA.

(2) Bringing in the know-how and experience of private organizations. (Until now, the organizers of local racing, municipal bodies, have been mostly by local government officials, largely unfamiliar with racing management.)

(3) Increased cooperation with the JRA.

The cost of horseracing, as compared to boat, bicycle, or other forms of publicly managed racing, is extremely high.

There are some 30 municipally owned racetracks in Japan, the biggest being Oi and the smallest Kochi. These racetracks, as is characteristic of regional racing in Japan, are each operated individually, each is its own "mini JRA."

Each organizer, each racetrack, each track's racehorses, stable staff, and betting system make up a totally separate package. Adding to this already cost-inefficient package is the fact that a huge number of people are required to run a racing outfit.

The JRA makes up for these drawbacks with a nationwide system and with its large-scale operation. Small-scale operations, however, are unable to do this. They are finding themselves on the brink of catastrophe with the dropping turnover.

The current hardships being experienced by local racing are seen as a consequence of the inherent potential, or lack thereof, for profit in its management scale and cost structure.

Local organizers regionally close to each other or those who have already enjoyed close ties, could share their racing resources, improve cost structures and be able to offer higher quality racing.

The revision's phrase, "the JRA will entrust sales to local racing organizers or private organizations" has drawn the attention of local racing organizers.

Presently, bets on JRA races, for example, Grade 1 races, can be made at local tracks. These have been restricted to single races only. However, the party selling the tickets, namely, the JRA, must go to the track each time, a very cost-inefficient way of doing business.

Were the JRA to entrust the sale of tickets to the local track, some three percent commission on turnover is allegedly expected to be charged. This is thought reasonable, especially in light of the fact that the JRA is already paying 10 percent of the 25 percent deducted from total turnover into the National Treasury. Local racing does not contribute to state funds.

The track in Iwate's case has already been lending its facilities to the JRA for some 10 years. It has restricted betting to only the main JRA race of the day. The belief is that offering too many JRA races (which are seen as highly attractive to the racing fan) will overshadow and undermine the local races.

A system already in effect does allow for the sale of tickets by local outfits on local races at different tracks and for the sale of tickets off track. The commission levied on these races, however, is reportedly 15 percent of the turnover.

http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/topics/t40033.html

[Handy Harry]

Windfall amid the rain

July 26, 2004


Officials in western Japan were marvelling at the generosity of a mystery philanthropist who donated a $2.6 million lottery ticket to help victims of recent torrential rainstorms.

In an extremely rare display of charity, a winning lottery ticket good for a Y200 million ($2.6 million) grand prize was mailed to the governor of Fukui prefecture on Friday with a note saying it was intended as a donation for rain victims.

"I am sending a lottery ticket that is blessed with luck hoping that it will be of some help to the people who had the misfortune of suffering damages," the letter said.

Hiroko Imatomi, a Fukui prefecture official who first spotted the mail, said the note convinced her the sender was sincere.

"It was a wonderful letter ... It was definitely not intended as a hoax or a joke," she said.

"It must be from a rare type of person who has a big heart and hopes it will help people who suffered a lot," Imatomi said.

The sender used a false name and local authorities have no way to find out who sent the winning ticket, which has been confirmed as being authentic, she said.

Torrential downpours pounded Fukui prefecture on July 17-18, killing three people, injuring 17 and destroying or damaging more than 200 homes.

Reuters

[Handy Harry]

Typhoon wreaks havoc in Tokyo

October 10, 2004


Tokyo: The most powerful typhoon to hit eastern Japan in a decade pummelled Tokyo on Saturday, snarling transport at the start of a long holiday weekend and forcing thousands in the countryside to evacuate.

Ma-on was the record ninth typhoon to hit Japan this year and the second in two weeks. It left two people missing and forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights, stranding thousands at the start of a three-day weekend

Around 2,400 people throughout Japan were evacuated from their homes, seeking refuge in schools and public halls, Kyodo news agency said.

"The worst for Tokyo should be over quickly, although care must still be taken of high winds and heavy rain for a little while," a Meteorological Agency official said, as torrential rain and high winds lashed the capital city.

The storm halted service on several subway lines and flooded streets in parts of downtown Tokyo with knee-deep water.

"I really should have stayed at home," said a man struggling with his umbrella in Tokyo's posh Ginza shopping district.

Some parts of central Tokyo were hit with as much as 69mm of rain in an hour, NHK national television said.

At least 87 international flights were cancelled along with hundreds of domestic ones, it said.

The storm made landfall in Shizuoka, 150 kilometres west of Tokyo. Record strong gusts of 243kph were recorded in one Shizuoka town.

A 74-year-old newspaper delivery man on his rounds in Chiba was believed to have been swept into a river and a man in his 60s was carried away by rising floodwaters in Shizuoka, police and media reports said.

Several people were injured, including a man who broke both legs in a fall from his roof while repairing it.

Television footage showed railway lines inundated by floodwaters and cars bobbing in flooded streets in Shizuoka.

Ma-on, which means "horse saddle" in Cantonese, also forced the postponement of qualifying for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix motor racing event to the morning of the competition, an unprecedented move taken after the storm disrupted practice yesterday at Suzuka, around 300 kilometres west of Tokyo.

The Grand Prix will be held as scheduled.

Meteorological officials said the storm, which triggered several landslides in central Japan, but without reports of injuries or major damage, was the most powerful to hit eastern Japan in a decade.

"There was a horrible screeching sound of metal being twisted," one woman whose house was damaged in a mudslide told NHK. "I can't believe this has happened."

Previously classified as a maximum category five typhoon on an international scale of one to five, Ma-on weakened as it neared Japan, but was still packing winds at its centre of up to 144 kph.

Since the approach of the storm was likely to coincide with high tide, forecasters also warned of possible tidal surges.

Storms and floods have killed at least 72 people in Japan this year and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. The most recent, Meari, killed 27 last week when it raked the archipelago with torrential rain, setting off landslides.

Experts say Japan has suffered from an unusual number of storms due to warmer offshore waters and weaker than normal Pacific high pressure areas.

Reuters

[imaufo]

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2004/10/24/japanquake_wideweb__430x281.jpg



A barrage of powerful earthquakes and aftershocks have thundered across northern Japan, killing at least 15 people, knocking down buildings and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes for safety. More than 700 were reported injured and at least four people were missing.

The quakes - the most powerful a magnitude 6.8 - were spread over several hours and centred in the city of Ojiya, about 260 km northwest of Tokyo. The temblors knocked a bullet train from its rails, ripped dramatic tears through roadways and made buildings sway in the capital.

The quakes ripped one road leading into Ojiya in half, leaving a 20-cm gap down the middle and one level elevated above the other. Stretches of other roads had been transformed into concrete waves.

"I've never felt anything like it before," said Yoichi Kato, the owner of a Seven-Eleven store in the nearby town of Kashiwazaki. "It was so strong, I was too surprised to be scared."

The first quake hit at 5.56 pm and was centred about 20 km beneath the earth's surface, the meteorological agency said. At least a half dozen more tremors hit intermittently over the following hours, including magnitude-6.2 and 5.9 quakes, the agency said.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi ordered his disaster management team to monitor casualties and damage, his spokesman, Yu Kameoka, said.

Officials said teams had been dispatched to assess the damage and offer assistance to residents but that darkness and buckled roads were hampering their efforts. Eleven military helicopters fanned out to check on the damage and help with rescue operations, a Defence Agency spokesman said.

The quakes were centred in relatively rural areas away from heavily populated areas. The government has estimated about 7,000 people would die if such a powerful quake were to hit the Tokyo area.

A 34-year-old man died after a wall fell on him as he fled his home in Tokamachi, while a concrete garage wall fell on a 55-year-old man, killing him.

Three people - a two-month old baby as well as 70-year-old and 65-year old women - died from the shock of the jolts. Kyodo News also reported the deaths of eight others, including three children and two elderly men.

Two others were stuck dead in a house that had been buried in a landslide in Ojiya, and four people were missing in Nagaoka city after two homes collapsed, NHK said. Telephone service to the area was cut and the deaths could not be immediately confirmed with local officials.

In Ojiya, a fire department rescue team surveyed the scene where a landslide took out a bridge and apparently knocked two trucks and possibly additional cars into a river below. But they had to hold off on going down to the trucks because of the dark night.

"There's nothing we can do," said Takahiro Minogawa, the head of the search party. "We can see two trucks but we can't get any closer until sunrise because it's just too dangerous."

Altogether, at least 700 were injured, several seriously, in the surrounding area, some by flying glass or after being hit by items that tumbled from shelves. With hospitals overflowing with patients, medical staff treated the injured in hospital hallways and reception areas.

Sewage and water mains burst, gas and telephone services were down. Close to 280,000 homes were out of power, said Satoshi Arakawa, a spokesman for Tohoku Electric.

A major nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric in Kashiwazaki, however, was operating normally.

Across Niigata prefecture (state), 42,000 people were evacuated to emergency shelters. In Ojiya, many took refuge in their cars for the night.

The jolt triggered an automatic safety device that temporarily halted train services, according to media reports. Railway officials said at least two trains, including a bullet train, had derailed and some of the cars had tipped over in Niigata prefecture, but nobody appeared to be hurt.

The Meteorological Agency said there was no threat of tsunami, potentially dangerous waves triggered by seismic activity.

The temblors came just days after Japan's deadliest typhoon in more than a decade, which left 79 dead and a dozen others missing.

Typhoon Tokage, the record eighth typhoon to hit Japan this year, ripped through the country with high waves and rapid mudslides, demolishing homes and flooding dozens of communities in western Japan before losing power and disappearing over the Pacific Ocean.

Authorities said there were concerns that the shaking could cause topsoil loosened by the storm's torrential rains to slide down hillsides.

Japan, which rests atop several tectonic plates, is among the world's most earthquake-prone countries. A magnitude-6 quake can cause widespread damage to homes and other buildings if centred in a heavily populated area.

AP

[imaufo]

Japan braces amid fears of aftershock

By Deborah Came




http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2004/10/24/japanquake_wideweb__430x292.jpg


Rescuers braved severe aftershocks yesterday as they searched collapsed buildings for survivors after a succession of powerful earthquakes in northern Japan.

Seven quakes in less than two hours hit the area around Niigata on Saturday evening. The first was the worst, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, and was felt 300 kilometres away in Tokyo.

The earthquakes have killed at least 21 people, injured more than 1900 and caused the evacuation of 61,000. Thousands spent the night in cold conditions in the open or sleeping in their cars.

Two carriages of a bullet train that was slowing from its cruising speed of 250kmh derailed as it approached a station, in the first accident in the 40-year history of the service. None of the 150 passengers was injured. Other fast trains were automatically brought to a stop by track sensors that detect the slightest of earth tremors.

After a helicopter tour of the mountainous quake area, Japan's Minister for Disaster Management, Yoshitaka Murata, said that he saw "tremendous landslides".

The quake was only slightly less powerful than the disastrous 6.9 quake that hit Kobe in 1995, killing 5000 people.

The Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, described them as much worse than imagined.

Minor earthquakes are an almost daily event in Japan, which sits on a dangerous intersection of three tectonic plates.

Rescue workers, including members of the military Self Defence Force, joined the search for victims yesterday, picking their way over fallen powerlines and caved-in roads.

Hospitals struggling with power blackouts and equipment failure were overwhelmed with victims and there were reports that some people were being treated outside.

"It's teeming with injured people and they seem to be receiving treatment under streetlights," a guard at one hospital said.

The deaths reported so far include three children killed when their house collapsed, and a man who died when the wall of his garage fell on top of him.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said it had recorded 244 quakes and aftershocks in the area since the first jolt, a record for the number of tremors felt in succession.

The agency also warned of the risk of further landslides as the effect of the quake and heavy typhoon-related rain in the area further loosened already unstable ground. The Tokyo Electric Company said a nuclear power plant in the quake zone was unaffected and running normally.

The quakes came just days after Japan's deadliest typhoon in more than a decade left 79 dead and a dozen others missing. Typhoon Tokage, the record eighth typhoon to hit Japan this year, ripped through the country with high waves and mudslides, demolishing homes and flooding dozens of communities in the west of the country before losing power and disappearing over the Pacific.

smh