Suminoe Boat Race GI Taiko-sho: Junpei Kiryu vs. The Osaka Crew – Full Preview of the Big April Showdown

Oh, I’ve been waiting for this! The spring classic at Boat Race Suminoe, the GI Taiko-sho, is finally kicking off on Saturday, April 3rd. As a major race marking the 70th anniversary of the venue’s opening, the hype is real. We’ve got a stellar line-up with last year’s Grand Prix (GP) champion, Junpei Kiryu, leading the charge – a total of eight GP competitors are in the mix. And the local Osaka contingent this time? Absolutely fierce.

Can the Champ, Junpei Kiryu, “Bounce Back”? Local Hero Shigeru Matsui Stands in His Way

Let’s be real, the biggest storyline this week is last year’s annual champion and GP winner, Junpei Kiryu. He’s been a bit off his top form since the start of the year, but you couldn’t ask for a better stage to stage a “comeback.” At this very course in Suminoe, where he shone brightest last year, expect him to race with the grit to reclaim his signature turns.

But the local crew aren’t about to roll out the red carpet for the champion. You’ve got the absolute local king, Shigeru Matsui, standing right there. This guy shows no signs of slowing down, and there’s no way he’s staying quiet in his home pool at Boat Race Suminoe. He was rock solid in last month’s GI Kinki Regional Championship, and he’ll be back with some fine-tuning, including a ring exchange, ready to peak for this one.

And it doesn’t stop there. You’ve got a deep roster of talent across generations, including Takayuki Ishino, Nobutaka Kamijo, and Hirotake Ishimoto. This could be the start of another “Osaka Legends” saga.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: The “Curse of the Repeat” and the Momentum of Toshimitsu Gondo

Here’s an interesting stat for you. This Taiko-sho race is notorious for being incredibly tough to win back-to-back. Long-time local fans will know this, but since 2000, no one has managed to defend their title. The last repeat winner? You have to go back nearly 40 years to when Munemasa Kobayashi won the 30th and 31st editions. That just goes to show how ridiculously hard it is to claim consecutive titles at Suminoe.

Considering that, the pressure on Nobutaka Kamijo, who finally clinched his first local GI title here last year, is immense. But this is the guy who shrugged off that pressure as a young gun last year. Whether he can smash this “curse of the repeat” is a major point to watch.

And if we’re talking about the hottest local racer right now, you can’t look past Toshimitsu Gondo. I mean, he just scored his long-awaited first GI victory in February, right here at Suminoe in the Kinki Regional Championship. That scorching .10 start from the inside lane is still etched in my memory. He’s riding high after securing his first SG (Classic) qualification spot. With that momentum, can’t wait to see how far he’ll go on this big local stage.

Watching the Water: Wind Direction and the “New Motors”

Now, let’s get a bit technical for a moment. The Suminoe course is often called “inside-lane friendly,” but it’s not that straightforward. From being at the venue many times myself, I can tell you the sea breeze from the 2nd-mark side is a massive factor. When that wind picks up, it leaves swell at the 2nd mark, making it easier to pull off passing moves like the “sashi” or “makuri.” On the flip side, if it’s calm and the water is flat, expect a race of all escape wins, just like the final day of the GI in February.

And don’t overlook the engine situation. The engines, including the GP-winning one, were last used on March 9th, and a new batch has been in play since the 23rd. This race marks the second session for these new engines, so evaluations are still up in the air. We’ve got a mix of 47 used engines and 5 brand-new ones being introduced for this race, so the engine tuners are really going to earn their keep. While it’s generally said used engines are easier to tune, it’ll be fascinating to see which team can get the most out of these new motors.

• Pride of the Local King: Shigeru Matsui defending home turf against GP champion Kiryu – an “Osaka Showdown”
• Quest for the Repeat: Nobutaka Kamijo aims for a feat not seen in 40 years – can he break the curse?
• Rising Star on Fire: February’s GI winner Toshimitsu Gondo – is his momentum the real deal?
• Battle for the Best Engine: With new motors in play and mixed evaluations, the sharpest tuners will come out on top
• Weather as a Weapon: At Suminoe, reading the wind (which can flip the water conditions) is key to victory

Speaking of visiting Boat Race Suminoe, there’s a spot you might want to check out while you’re there. It’s the Osaka Gokoku Shrine right next to the racecourse. It’s just across the new Naniwa-suji street, and you’ll see many fans stopping by before the races to pray for good luck. I hear local racers also make it a point to visit for the perpetual memorial and eternal remembrance services.

The Suminoe ward is an area that grew with the post-war recovery. For the long-time locals, both boat racing and the shrine are important parts of life. Expect some intense racing in this down-to-earth, vibrant area. Will it be Junpei Kiryu? Or one of the Osaka crew? Or will a national ace like Takuya Baba, Eiji Shirai, or Koya Harada crash the party?

The action kicks off April 3rd. You definitely won’t want to miss it!