Yuga Kawada

Profile Kawada debuted on March 7, 2004, and won his first race on the 20th of that same month. Kawada won his first graded race, the Kokura Daishoten, with in 2006. Kawada won his first Grade I race and classic race with when they won the Satsuki Sho in 2008. The year before, he became the jockey to have ridden the first white horse to win a JRA race when he rode at a maiden race held at Hanshin Racecourse on April 1, 2007.

Kawada became a Derby jockey in 2016 when he won the race with Makahiki. This race also marked his completion of all classic races in Japan, as he had also won the Kikuka Sho in 2010 with Big Week, the Yushun Himba with Gentildonna, and the Oka Sho with Harp Star by that point. On September 11 of that same year, Kawada became the 31st JRA jockey to have won a total of 1,000 races in his career.

In 2019, Kawada won the World All Star Jockeys that was held at Sapporo Racecourse.

In 2021, Kawada became the 9th JRA jockey ever to have won a total of 100 graded races in his career after winning the Takamatsunomiya Kinen with Danon Smash. That same year, Kawada won two GI races abroad, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf held at Del Mar, and the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin, together with Loves Only You; with the former win being the first time a Japanese horse ever won that race.

In 2022, Kawada won the Oka Sho for the second time with Stars On Earth. That same year, he became the leading jockey in Japan for the first time in his career, as well as the best jockey by win rate and money earned; earning him the Grand Prize. That same year, Kawada became a Triple Tiara jockey after he won the Oka Sho, Yushun Himba, and Shuka Sho with Liberty Island. The final leg of the Triple Tiara, the Shuka Sho, was held on Kawada's 38th birthday.

Personal life Kawada's great-grandfather, , was a retired jockey and horse trainer, as was his son (Yuga's grandfather) . Toshimi's son and Yuga's father, , is a retired jockey and active horse trainer at . , who was the jockey for Inari One before becoming a trainer at Oi Racecourse, is Kawada's uncle.

Kawada married to , a tarento, in 2011. The two have a son named Ginji.

Major wins Japan

Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes – (4) – Danon Premium (2017), Grenadier Guards (2020), Jantar Mantar (2023), Admire Zoom (2024) Champions Cup – (2) – Chuwa Wizard (2019), Chrysoberyl (2019) Haneda Hai – (1) – Amante Bianco (2024) Hanshin Juvenile Fillies – (1) – Liberty Island (2022) Hopeful Stakes – (1) – Danon The Kid (2020) Japan Breeding farms' Cup Classic – (3) – Chuwa Wizard (2018), Chrysoberyl (2020), Wilson Tesoro (2024) Japan Breeding farms' Cup Sprint – (2) – Suni (2009, 2011) Oka Sho – (3) – Harp Star (2013), Stars On Earth (2022), Liberty Island (2023) Osaka Hai – (1) – Lei Papale (2021) Kawasaki Kinen – (2) – Chuwa Wizard (2019, 2022) Kikuka Sho – (1) – Big Week (2010) Mile Championship – (1) – Jantar Mantar (2025) NHK Mile Cup – (2) – Danon Scorpion (2022), Jantar Mantar (2024) Queen Elizabeth II Cup – (1) – Lachesis (2014) Satsuki Sho – (1) – Captain Thule (2008) Shuka Sho – (1) – Liberty Island (2023) Sprinters Stakes – (2) – Fine Needle (2018), Mama Cocha (2023) Takamatsunomiya Kinen – (2) – Fine Needle (2018), Danon Smash (2019) Takarazuka Kinen – (1) – Lovely Day (2015) Teio Sho – (1) – Gold Blitz (2012) Tokyo Yushun – (1) – Makahiki (2016) Tokyo Daishōten – (1) – Ushba Tesoro (2023) Yasuda Kinen – (4) – Maurice (2015), Satono Aladdin (2016), Danon Kingly (2021), Jantar Mantar (2025) Yushun Himba – (2) – Gentildonna (2012), Liberty Island (2023)

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Cup – (1) – Loves Only You (2021)

United States

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf – (1) – Loves Only You (2021)

United Arab Emirates

Dubai World Cup – (1) – Ushba Tesoro (2023)