No.33 Feel the Wind of Nakagawa (Boat Race Edogawa)

(Inagi Newsletter published on July 15, 2014)

Do you all know about the boat race venue located in Edogawa Ward? Its official name is Edogawa Racecourse, and it is the only motorboat racing course in the country that uses a river, specifically the first-class river "Nakagawa" that flows through the western part of the ward. Inagi City also participates in its operation.
The Edogawa Racecourse was first held in 1955 when Tokyo was designated as the implementer of the Motorboat Racing Act, Article 2. In 1967, the "Tokyo Six City Boat Racing Business Association," consisting of six cities including Hachioji, joined as an implementer. Subsequently, in 1973, due to the intentions of then-Governor Minobe, Tokyo's boat racing business was abolished, and the "Tokyo Three City Revenue Business Association," consisting of Inagi City, Tama City, and Akigawa City (now Akiruno City), entered the scene. Since then, these two associations have shared the hosting rights and have been operating to this day.
At the time of the entry of the three-city profit business association, it was during the period of high economic growth, and the dividends to the constituent cities steadily increased every year. The dividends to Inagi City started at 400 million yen in fiscal year 1973 and reached 1.5 billion yen at its peak in fiscal year 1991.
However, the bubble economy collapsed, and both the number of visitors and sales amounts have remained sluggish for a long time, dropping to 10 million yen in fiscal year 2001.
Since then, we have been working on management improvements, reducing operating costs by automating the sales window for winning boat tickets and changing the management method to a joint operation of both unions, while striving to maintain and increase dividends.
The total amount distributed to Inagi City so far has exceeded 15.6 billion yen, providing valuable non-tax revenue.
This fiscal year, in addition to selling unnecessary fixed assets, we aim for further management improvement and cost reduction by comprehensively outsourcing business operations to private companies.
Facility renovations are also progressing, and we are waiting for your visit with a variety of viewing seats, from the free admission outdoor sales office to the special viewing seats GOLD with individual monitors. A free shuttle bus is available from the nearest station, Toei Shinjuku Line Funabori Station. Please take the opportunity to enjoy the water-based combat sport of boat racing along with sightseeing at the Skytree, water buses, and various downtown attractions.