Passing the Reins (2025)

"The Royal Family" is an epic drama of dreams, hope, and legacy about horse racing and the people dedicated to the sport. This drama is crafted so intentionally to center the horses and the beauty of the sport through top-notch cinematography and grand storytelling. The cast obviously is a who's who of talented actors with Tsumabuki Satoshi and Sato Koichi really setting the tone with their characters' relationship and growth. No character is wasted in this story - everyone is vital, critical, and adds to a narrative that grabs the audience and really doesn't let go. Though I'm not at all a fan of the sport, watching this drama felt like watching a love letter to horse racing and my emotions were completely swept up into it all. I sobbed after nearly every horse race, the anticipation and adrenaline running through me thanks to the superb acting that brought each race to life. As with dramas like this one, a story of team perseverance always becomes a story about chosen family brought together by a shared goal and dream and watching that struggle and growth as they came together was fantastic. Highly recommend this drama if you appreciate a well-written drama (it's not unique, but it is very strong!) that will take you though a beautiful human (and horse!) story with an amazing emotional journey.

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An Introduction to Japanese Horse Racing

While it is hard to brush aside the current Umamusume hype nor influence, The Royal Family stands its own for the original blend of fiction and some history of Japanese Horse Racing. It is a wholesome experience of interaction between horses and the humans surrounding them. It is true the dramatization is over the top more often than not sometimes. Almost every episode my tears flow. Thanks for their ingenuity encapsulated the story in a way only Japanese can.

Personally I don't dwell on rivalry between farms of different regions. It was made to entrench the climax that some region indeed has the knack of the better breeds. In the end those was made peace eloquently. The story relay on the view of a young accountant whose in turn becoming a manager of horse racing owner. His tenure went into two generations, perhaps this is why NF got the title on. The titular horse however is the culmination of the first owner's dream. If you can't have it at the first time, try again until you succeed. I suppose this is the message the drama tried to convey.

The acting are top notch although I would prefer some castings better with other actors/ tresses. Overall they give the vibe that this is their life and theirs are depended on it. As for the screenwriters I can't applaud enough for their brilliant lines and overturns in time.

I think the music is good, but not the theme song. Just not my taste I guess. Soundtracks however it oozes with the screen.

There is a tad below 10 score for some issues.
First, they only gave some technical racing scene if you can say that in the final episodes. Not a single one did they showed any insights in past episodes. Therefore, it is good for people in average not into horse racing but it is bad for people who know their mettle. Second, because the nature of the drama most of the screen-time was occupied by dramatization if not soap opera not the racing themselves. It would be great if they made the horses as centerpiece.

It was a excellent show nonetheless. The cinematography is beyond what usual J-drama these days. You should watch it or you won't know what you're missing. 9.5/10

PS:
The drama was made to commemorate 70th Arima Kinen in mind. 1955-2025

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