[TV Osaka Corporation] [Documentary 7] Following in her mother’s footsteps and becoming a boat racer – A close-up documentary on a 25-year-old female racer aiming for her first victory in her hometown of Amagasaki
TV Osaka Corporation Press Release: September 26, 2025 [Documentary 7] Following in her mother’s footsteps and becoming a boat racer – An in-depth documentary on a 25-year-old female racer aiming for her first victory in her hometown of Amagasaki. [TV Osaka] “Documentary 7” Broadcast: Saturday, September 27, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM “People who contribute to our lives without standing out,” “People who stand by and walk alongside those in socially vulnerable positions.” “Documentary 7” is a documentary program that shines a spotlight on such people discovered during daily news coverage. In the 31st episode, we follow in the footsteps of Nobumi Hika (25), a native of Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, who followed in her mother’s footsteps and entered the tough world of boat racing. No. 31 “Following my mother’s path as a racer – my goal is to win my first race” Boat racing is a “world of skill competition” where men and women compete in the same races. The number of female racers is steadily increasing, as lighter weight makes it easier to achieve speed. Currently, approximately 17% of racers are female. However, controlling a motorboat gliding at 80 kilometers per hour is no easy feat. Even though lighter weight offers an advantage, the difference in physical strength between men and women is clear. Tomihika, a young female racer from Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, continues to work hard in the extremely tough world of boat racing, saying, “The appeal of boat racing is that men and women can compete on an equal footing.” He has been attracting attention, winning approximately 30 million yen in prize money in the three years since his debut.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20945/2318/20945-2318-8fc92f25dc968fd2165f1576a56cb008-1920×1080.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20945/2318/20945-2318-f74dd1181304835af27470bedc50c9b5-1920×1080.jpg (C) TV Osaka In fact, her mother, Mitsuyo, was also a boat racer, debuting in 1987. She was active while raising Mihika. Because racers live in dormitories for about a week during races, they are strictly prohibited from contacting the outside world. She had to leave her children at home when she went out, and apparently would race while looking at photos of her children. With the support of those around her, she continued racing until she was 49, earning a total of 223 million yen in prize money over her lifetime.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20945/2318/20945-2318-c9bed302b123897346420d57acacceec-1920×1080.jpg (C) TV Osaka Seeing his mother’s example, Noboru decided to become a boat racer and jumped into the world of boat racing. After graduating from high school, he took the exam to become a racer, but failed seven times in a row. He considered other careers, but refused to give up, so he pursued his dream of becoming a racer and passed on his eighth try. She finally achieved her dream of becoming a racer. She had big goals.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20945/2318/20945-2318-40acefacc1e4cd6615b1913473dc2362-1920×1080.jpg (C) TV Osaka Noboru’s goal is to “win his first race in his hometown of Amagasaki.” He faces challenges every day and practices repeatedly. His dedication to practice has earned him the love of local fans. The race is finally here in his hometown of Amagasaki. What will the result be…? Program information “Documentary 7” [Broadcast Station] TV Osaka [Broadcast Date and Time] Saturday, September 27, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM [Program Website]
https://www.tv-osaka.co.jp/documentary7/ [You can also watch the program on TVer after it airs] https://tver.jp/series/sr9b4wa97m [Past episodes are available on our YouTube channel]
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXglZY9f1Kw3kt9JiwuO2qcXr4mKDt08P Details about this release