Nanako Fujita

Nanako Fujita grew up in Moriya, Ibaraki Prefecture.^[1] Her family was not involved in the horse racing industry.^[2] After discovering horse racing on television in the sixth grade, Fujita decided to become a jockey. In 2013, Fujita enrolled in jockey school at age 15. She made her racing debut three years later.^[1]

When Fujita was granted a jockey's license in 2016, she became the first female jockey to debut in Japan in 16 years.^[2] Her appearance made headlines in the Japanese racing scene, as she became the only female jockey racing at the time.^[3][4] She marked her first win on 24 March 2016.^[1] That year she participated in the Ladies' World Championship in the United Arab Emirates.^[1]

By 2017 she broke the record for the most wins in a season by a Japan Racing Association (JRA) female jockey, with 14 wins.^[5] That year, she took part in the 2017 International Mixed Doubles Jockey Challenge in Macau.^[1]

In 2018 she set the record for the most career wins by a JRA female jockey when she marked 35 wins.^[1]

2019 would become her most successful racing year. In 2019, she became the first JRA female jockey to compete in a Grade 1 stakes race, when competing in the February Stakes.^[6][7] Later that year, she would become the first female jockey to win a Graded race in Japan when she won the Capella Stakes.^[8] On 30 June 2019, she won the Women Jockey's World Cup for Japan in Stockholm, Sweden at Bro Park.^[9][10][11] Later that summer, she travelled to the United Kingdom to race in the Shergar Cup at Ascot Racecourse.^[8] She would mark 43 wins that year.^[12]

In 2021, Fujita took part in the International Jockeys Challenge in Riyadh. She placed fourth in the event.^[13] Prior to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Fujita participated in the torch relay.^[14]

Fujita's 2024 season would be plagued with injuries. In July, she announced her upcoming marriage to a JRA racing official.^[15] On 10 August 2024, Fujita participated in the 2024 Shergar Cup at Ascot.^[16][17] She would mark six wins across the season.^[12]

On 7 October 2024, Bunshun accused Fujita of breaching mobile phone rules that prohibit jockeys from using cellular phones when they are in lockdown during a racing weekend. JRA rules require jockeys to be sequestered from 9pm on Friday evening until Sunday while participating at race meets.^[18][19] Under the policy commonly deemed "jockey jail", jockeys are not permitted to use their phones during this time for any reason, even to talk to their families.^[20][21] The accusations leveled by Bunshun against Fujita concerned infractions Fujita had previously admitted to the JRA previously the year earlier.^[3][20]

On 10 October 2024, the JRA formally sanctioned Fujita, referring her to an arbitration committee retroactively.^[3] The next day, Fujita announced she was quitting the sport, and returned her jockey license.^[14][12]

Upon her retirement, Fujita had 166 JRA winners, more than any female rider in Japan.^[14][22]

In April 2025, Fujita made her first public appearance after her retirement. Appearing at Monbetsu Racecourse, Fujita apologized for "causing you all so much trouble".^[23][24]