Tokyo International News Agency

On July 12, 2026, a monumental feat was etched into the history of Japanese horse racing during the 7th race at Hakodate Racecourse (3yo & up, 1-Win Class, 1,700m dirt). The race favorite, Himino Etoile, clinched the victory after a thrilling battle at the wire. With this win, the legendary jockey Yutaka Take achieved an unprecedented milestone of 5,000 career victories across JRA, local, and overseas races. The race featured a heart-pounding stretch run where three horses fiercely battled to the finish. Although Himino Etoile seemed to be in a tough spot coming off the fourth turn, she responded tenaciously to Take’s urging and unleashed a powerful late drive to snatch the win in the final strides. As the official winning time was posted, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the fans gathered near the unsaddling area. Following his historic achievement, Yutaka Take joked with a smile, "I had been finishing second a lot lately, so it felt like everyone was trying to sto...

Japan's iconic long-running variety show, Nippon TV's "Shoten," celebrated its monumental 3000th broadcast on February 22, 2026. This historic achievement, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of its premiere in May 1966, brought joy and laughter to countless viewers. For this special episode, the national treasure band THE ALFEE made their first-ever appearance in the entertainment segment. The collaboration between "Shoten," a national program running for 60 years, and THE ALFEE, a national band with over 50 years in their career and soon to reach their 3000th live performance, garnered significant attention even before the broadcast, quickly trending on social media. During the show, THE ALFEE members engaged in a witty conversation with the "Shoten" cast. A particular anecdote that drew huge laughs was when THE ALFEE's Masaru Sakurai visited the traditional candy shop (dagashiya) owned by Taihei Hayashiya's family. The story of Taihei...