Suwa Farm is a thoroughbred breeding and training farm located in Shichinohe Town, Aomori Prefecture. Shichinohe has a long history of horse breeding and was once known as an important production area for the famous Nanbu horses.
Established in this horse-loving region, Suwa Farm has produced numerous successful racehorses throughout its history. Today, it remains one of the relatively few thoroughbred breeding farms still operating in Aomori Prefecture. Although the farm is run on a small scale, it continues to preserve the region’s long tradition of breeding and raising racehorses.
The history of Suwa Farm dates back to 1955. It was founded by Chubei Suwa, a racehorse owner who lived in Saitama Prefecture.
Suwa wanted to keep and care for his own mares in a location closer to his home rather than sending them to a farm in Hokkaido. He therefore established a farm in Shichinohe and acquired the former Maeyama Farm to begin his operation.
The following year, in 1956, Teizo Hazama, who had served as head of the Livestock Division of Gunma Prefecture, became the farm manager. His professional knowledge and experience helped establish a more specialized breeding operation, and full-scale thoroughbred production began.
Aomori was once one of Japan’s leading horse-breeding regions, comparable in importance to Hokkaido. At its peak, the prefecture was home to more than 200 horse-breeding farms, and many racehorses were raised in the region.
However, the number of farms gradually declined from around 1965 onward. Today, only approximately 32 farms in Aomori Prefecture are involved in thoroughbred production.
Against this background, Suwa Farm has particular significance as one of the farms that continues to preserve Aomori’s horse-breeding heritage. The farm is currently operated by a small team of six staff members, combining specialized knowledge, experience, and dedication to raise high-quality horses.
Over the decades, horses bred at Suwa Farm have competed successfully at racecourses throughout Japan. Several have won major races and left their mark on the history of Japanese horse racing.
One of the most famous horses associated with Suwa Farm is Green Grass. The horse won the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) in 1976, followed by the Tenno Sho (Spring) in 1978 and the Arima Kinen in 1979.
Green Grass enjoyed a long and successful racing career and became an important horse in the history of Japanese racing. His achievements also helped make the name of Suwa Farm known to racing fans throughout Japan.
Green Grass was not the only successful racehorse produced by Suwa Farm. The farm has been associated with numerous horses that achieved victories in major races on Japan’s central racing circuit.
In 2001, Tamuro Cherry won the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, one of Japan’s major races for two-year-old fillies, and attracted considerable attention during the following classic-race season.
Blue Aletz won the Yasuda Kinen in 1980, establishing itself as an important competitor in the sprint and mile divisions.
In steeplechase racing, Waka Taisho won the autumn edition of the Nakayama Grand Jump in 1990, demonstrating the versatility of horses associated with the farm.
More recently, Mirai e no Tsubasa won the Diamond Stakes in 2020, showing that Suwa Farm’s breeding tradition continues into the modern era.
Horses bred at Suwa Farm have also achieved notable results in Japan’s regional horse-racing circuit.
Darling Grass was particularly successful during the 1980s, winning several major races, including the Kawasaki Kinen and the Urawa Kinen. The horse became a favorite among fans of regional racing.
Other horses, including Tetsuno Sengoku O and Metal Color, also recorded notable performances and competed successfully at racecourses around Japan.
Suwa Farm has also played a role in maintaining important bloodlines through the keeping of prominent stallions.
One notable example is Grand Opera, which was kept at Suwa Farm from 1994 to 1998 and sired many offspring during his breeding career.
Other distinguished horses, including Secreto and Mejiro Bailey, also spent time at the farm and contributed to the continuation of valuable bloodlines in Japanese thoroughbred racing.
Suwa Farm is significant not only as a place where racehorses are bred but also as a representative of Aomori’s long-standing horse-breeding culture.
For international visitors, it is worth remembering that horses have played an important role in the history and development of northern Japan. The region’s horse-breeding traditions extend well beyond modern racing and are closely connected with the agricultural and cultural history of the area.
The farm itself may not be open to the general public, so visitors should check current local information before planning a visit. Nevertheless, Shichinohe offers opportunities to learn about the area’s horse-breeding heritage through local events, museums, historical materials, and stories about famous racehorses.
For travelers interested in horse racing, Japanese sporting history, agriculture, or rural culture, the story of Suwa Farm offers a different perspective on Aomori.
Rather than simply visiting a racecourse, learning about a breeding farm reveals the years of work that go into producing and raising a racehorse before it ever reaches the starting gate.
Suwa Farm has been breeding and raising racehorses since 1955, producing horses that have competed successfully at both central and regional racecourses throughout Japan.
From the legendary Green Grass to later winners such as Tamuro Cherry and Mirai e no Tsubasa, horses associated with Suwa Farm have contributed to the rich history of Japanese horse racing.
At the same time, the farm represents a much older tradition. Shichinohe and the surrounding area have long been connected with horses, and Suwa Farm continues this heritage at a time when relatively few thoroughbred breeding farms remain in Aomori Prefecture.
When exploring Shichinohe and northern Aomori, discovering the history of Suwa Farm provides a fascinating glimpse into the people, horses, and traditions behind Japanese horse racing and the region’s enduring equestrian culture.