199th Meeting - March 10, 2025 (Monday)

Theme: "What a Professional in Equine Affairs Learned from Running a Horse-Related Organization for One Year: Future Trends and Strategies in the Horse Industry"

Speaker: Mr. Takafumi Watanabe

• JRA Assistant Trainer

• Equestrian YouTuber ("Osamu & Nabe’s Next Challenge!!")

• Representative Director, General Incorporated Association Happy Horse Creators

Presentation Topics:

1. Self-introduction, company overview

2. Individual horse-related activities (individuals, ranches, etc.)

3. How the lack of horizontal connections hinders appeal and development potential

4. Disseminating accurate information through the power of video

5. Changing Japanese attitudes toward horses and creating "happy horses"

Time: 18:15–21:00 (Reception starts at 17:30, dinner at 18:15, lecture begins at 19:30)

Venue: Shinkyotei, 2-4-2 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Participation Fee: FRC members: ¥9,000; Non-members: ¥11,000 (includes an authentic Chinese cuisine course)

Capacity: 35 people

→ Apply or Inquire here.

Instructor's Biography

Born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, in 1980. He entered the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Kitasato University, where he started riding horses in the equestrian club. Graduating from the university in March 2003, he worked at the International Farm in Hokkaido's Obihiro, the JRA Tokiwa Branch (now the JRA Racehorse Rehabilitation Center), and passed the exam for the jockey school. After graduation, he joined the Miho Training Center in the spring of 2006. He worked at the stables of Kazutaka Kato, Toshikazu Nihonryu, Hirofumi Kurita, and Kazuo Fujisawa before currently working as a training assistant at Masayoshi Ebina's stable. He was previously in charge of the famous mare Gran Alegría.

Encouraged by his senior and training assistant Shū Nogami from his time at the Hirofumi Kurita stable, he launched the YouTube channel "Osamu to Nabe." On January 13, 2022, Mr. Nogami tragically passed away from a heart attack at the age of 54.

Currently, while working as a stable assistant, he is also managing Happy Horse Creators, an organization run by four board members.

→ Apply or Inquire here.