Bando Bokujo

Bando Bokujo (有限会社坂東牧場) is a Japanese thoroughbred breeding, raising and training farm (a stud farm) based in Hidaka-cho, Saru District, Hokkaido — the heart of Japan's horse-breeding region. The farm was founded in 1950 (Showa 25) in Kawamukai, Biratori-cho, where it began with consignment and breeding operations in a 40-stall barn, and was incorporated as a limited liability company (yugen kaisha) in June 1972, when it moved its office to Fukumitsu in Hidaka-cho and started consignment and raising operations with 90 stalls. Over the following decades Bando Bokujo expanded through a series of new branch farms and barn investments: a fifth branch in Biratori-cho in 1989 for consignment and mid-term raising (50 stalls), a second branch in Hidaka-cho in 1992 (30 additional raising stalls), and a third branch in Biratori-cho in 1998 (40 additional breeding stalls). In 2006 the farm installed full roofs over its circular track course and its hill (saka-michi) course, and expanded its main-farm raising barns by 30 stalls, bringing its raising capacity to a total of 150 stalls. The farm describes itself as offering an integrated system covering breeding (繁殖), raising/breaking (育成) and training (調教), with the stated aim of turning young horses (若駒) into top-class racehorses (優駿) and sending them on to the grand stage. Its facilities include an all-weather covered dirt course and a covered hill course, allowing training to continue through winter and in rain, plus a corner ring (角馬場) and walking machines. Its current raising barn capacity is described as 120 stalls on the facilities page, with the company history citing a total of 150 raising stalls after the 2006 expansion. The company is led by representative director Masazumi Bando (坂東 正積). Its stated business is the production, raising and training of racehorses, and it lists affiliated companies B.B Racing Co., Ltd. (株式会社B.Bレーシング) and Nittan Saddler Co., Ltd. (株式会社日胆サドラー). The farm is located at 85-1 Fukumitsu, Hidaka-cho, Saru District, Hokkaido, near JR Hidaka-Mombetsu Station, about 50 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport. It remains an active, privately held family-style operation and continues to publish staff blogs and consignor information for sales such as the 2025 Selection Sale.

Bando Bokujo traces its origins to 1950 (Showa 25), when it was founded in Kawamukai, Biratori-cho (平取町川向), in Hokkaido's Hidaka region. Operations began with consignment and breeding in a 40-stall barn, making it one of the older comprehensive farms in the Hidaka area. In June 1972 (Showa 47) the business was incorporated as a limited liability company, Bando Bokujo Co., Ltd. (有限会社坂東牧場), and its office was moved to Fukumitsu in Hidaka-cho (日高町福満), the site of its current main farm. At that point it began consignment and raising (育成) operations with 90 stalls. Further expansion followed. In 1989 (Heisei 1) the farm established a fifth branch in Kawamukai, Biratori-cho, starting consignment and mid-term raising with 50 stalls. In 1992 (Heisei 4) it added a second branch in Fukumitsu, Hidaka-cho, expanding raising barns by 30 stalls. In 1998 (Heisei 10) it established a third branch in Kawamukai, Biratori-cho, expanding breeding barns by 40 stalls. A significant facilities upgrade came in 2006 (Heisei 18), when the farm installed full roofs over both its circular track course and its hill (saka-michi) course, enabling training in winter and rain. In the same year it expanded its main-farm raising barns by 30 stalls, bringing total raising capacity to 150 stalls. The company notes that its various branch farms have continued to make equipment investments since then. Today the farm presents itself as offering an integrated breeding–raising–training system, with the stated mission of developing young horses into top racehorses and sending them to the highest levels of Japanese racing. It is led by representative director Masazumi Bando and lists affiliated companies B.B Racing Co., Ltd. and Nittan Saddler Co., Ltd. It continues to engage with the bloodstock market, publishing consignor information for sales such as the 2025 Selection Sale, and maintains an active staff blog.

• 2006

  Full roofs installed over circular track and hill courses; main-farm raising barns expanded by 30 stalls, reaching 150 raising stalls total.

• 1998

  Third branch established in Kawamukai, Biratori-cho; breeding barns expanded by 40 stalls.

• 1992

  Second branch established in Fukumitsu, Hidaka-cho; raising barns expanded by 30 stalls.

• 1989

  Fifth branch established in Kawamukai, Biratori-cho; consignment and mid-term raising start with 50 stalls.

• 1972

  Incorporated as Bando Bokujo Co., Ltd.; office moved to Fukumitsu, Hidaka-cho; consignment and raising start with 90 stalls.

• 1950

  Founded in Kawamukai, Biratori-cho (first branch); consignment and breeding start with 40 stalls.

A long-established, integrated Hokkaido stud farm specializing in breeding, raising and training thoroughbreds for the Japanese racing market.

• Thoroughbred breeding (production)

  Breeding operations at the farm's breeding barns.

• Young horse raising and breaking

  Raising and breaking of young horses in dedicated raising barns.

• Racehorse training

  Training using covered dirt and hill courses, corner ring and walking machines.

• Consignment services

  Consignment (pre-training) services for owners and breeders.

• Sales consignment

  Consigning horses to bloodstock sales such as the 2025 Selection Sale.

1. 1有限会社 坂東牧場 (official website homepage)bando-farm.co.jp
2. 2会社紹介 | 有限会社 坂東牧場 (company profile)bando-farm.co.jp
3. 3Bando Bokujo — Wikidatawikidata.org