With each year, the number of participants has grown, and this time, around 60 teams from across Yamaguchi Prefecture and the western Seto Inland Sea region came together to compete. While the race has become one of the larger cutter events nationwide, things didn’t go quite as planned for our official boat team, KYOKUYO BLUE STARS.

Just days before the event, one of our original crew members had to withdraw after injuring his back during training at home. Then came a last-minute dropout, pushing the team to the brink of disqualification. In a dramatic turn of events, three of our Filipino employees - former technical trainees who had returned to Kyokuyo as Specified Skilled Workers - answered the call and stepped up to fill the gaps. (Now that’s what you call a true foreign reinforcement!)

After achieving our first-ever heat victory in last year’s race and placing 7th out of 27 in the semifinals, expectations were cautiously optimistic. But this time, with no chance to hold a pre-race practice due to busy workloads - and with half the crew rowing together for the first time - our team faced an uphill challenge.

Thankfully, we had a secret weapon: our Auditing Officer Mr. Fukushima, who once rowed competitively at Oshima National College of Maritime Technology. Under his strong and steady leadership at the helm, the team pulled together and managed to finish 2nd in the first heat.

In the semifinals held after lunch, the team seemed to find their rhythm - our rowing strokes became more coordinated, and the boat moved noticeably smoother through the water. We managed to shave nearly 14 seconds off our previous time, improving from 3:48.08 to a solid 3:34.85. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late. The cutoff for the finals was nearly a full minute faster, and our time placed us 29th out of 42 semifinal teams - marking the end of KYOKUYO BLUE STARS’ run in the 11th Shimonoseki Cutter Race.

Still, it was a race to remember: unexpected twists, great teamwork, and the unmistakable Kyokuyo spirit on full display. Thanks to our international reinforcements, we also had more spectators from the workplace - even some of their bosses showed up just to cheer them on.

The excitement has already laid the groundwork for next year’s race.
Thanks to everyone who supported us - see you again on the water!