About the race
The Japan Cup is run over 2,400 metres of left-handed turf at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu and is an international invitational G1 for three-year-olds and upwards. The Japan Racing Association (JRA) established it in 1981 to raise the standard of Japanese thoroughbreds. The 2026 running is on 29 November with a total prize fund of JPY 1,090,000,000, of which JPY 500,000,000 goes to the winner. From 2026 the JRA offers a bonus of up to US$5 million to a Japan Cup winner that has won a designated Tier 1 race abroad, such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The 45th running, on 30 November 2025, went to the French-trained Calandagan, ridden by Mickael Barzalona for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and owner Aga Khan Studs. The JRA reported that he was the first foreign-based winner since Alkaased in 2005 and that he set a track record of 2:20.3, beating Masquerade Ball by a head.
The 2025 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 November 2025 | Calandagan (IRE) | Mickael Barzalona | Francis-Henri Graffard | Aga Khan Studs |
From the official result.
Recognition and facts
- Winner's prize (2026)
- JPY 500,000,000
- Maximum field
- 18 runners
- Series (2025)
- Japan Autumn International
- Track record
- 2:20.3, Calandagan, 30 November 2025
- Bonus (from 2026)
- Up to US$5,000,000 for a Japan Cup winner that won a designated Tier 1 race in 2025 or 2026
Questions readers ask
When is the Japan Cup run?
The 2026 Japan Cup is scheduled for Sunday 29 November 2026 at Tokyo Racecourse, according to the JRA.
What is the prize fund of the Japan Cup?
The JRA lists a total prize fund of JPY 1,090,000,000 for 2026, with JPY 500,000,000 to the winner.
Who won the Japan Cup in 2025?
Calandagan won on 30 November 2025, ridden by Mickael Barzalona and trained by Francis-Henri Graffard for Aga Khan Studs.
Sources
The rank and rating are from the IFHA's LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races 2025, published 21 January 2026, which ranks races by the ratings of their first four finishers. Other facts are from the pages listed below.