Masatora Obu

Masatora Obu looks physically fit and strong, which matches his hands-on training style perfectly.

Despite his age, he has a sturdy and athletic build.

People say he is one of the most physically capable people around, thanks to his history with sports like Mongolian sumo.

Masatora Obu is known for being strict, tough, and a total believer in hard work.

He runs his training in a “Spartan” way, always pushing his horses and jockeys past their limits.

Though he rarely shows a soft side, he actually cares a lot about the well-being of his trainees.

There are even moments when he wonders if his style might be too harsh.

Masatora Obu works at the Miho Training Center as a horse trainer.

He grew up in Hokkaido, near what used to be Mukawa Town (now Mukawa).

He is the older brother of Genjiro Obu, the owner of Midori Ranch, and uncle to Masaru Obu (in the anime).

His daughter Rika Kousaka, from a previous marriage, is a jockey who rides for Makibako, the sibling of Midori Makibaō.

Masatora Obu stands out for his unique way of training horses.

He does not care about bloodlines and instead focuses on maximizing each horse’s natural talent.

He often develops custom strategies for each horse, such as helping Midori Makibaō overcome his weakness in muddy tracks.

He is also famous for pushing the horses with extra-tough training, especially before big overseas races.

Back in his youth, he traveled around the world and even became known as “Arslaan” in Mongolian sumo because of his strength.

• Genjiro Obu: Younger brother and owner of Midori Ranch.
• Rika Kousaka: Daughter (jockey for Makibako); he acts strict around her but is actually deeply invested in her success and safety.
• Masaru Obu: Nephew (only in the anime).
• Makibako: Horse under his care, and also Rika Kousaka’s main horse.
• Kansuke Yamamoto: Main jockey for Midori Makibaō; Masatora trains him harshly when needed.
• Heishichiro Honda: Later works with him as both become center chiefs.
• Other horse owners: Some avoid him because of his tough style, so the number of horses he trains has gone down lately.

Recognizing Midori Makibaō’s Potential

At first, Midori Makibaō seemed too small and odd-looking to be a real racehorse.

Even Genjiro Obu almost gave up on him.

However, Masatora Obu saw hidden strength in Makibaō’s spirit.

He decided to train Makibaō himself, using a mix of new and unorthodox methods to bring this out.

Spartan Training and Rising Fame

Masatora Obu quickly became known as the “Tiger of Miho” for his wild, strict training sessions.

He believed any weakness could be fixed with tough work.

For example, he specifically designed harsh mud training to help Makibaō race better on heavy, muddy tracks.

Although his horses became strong and tough, sometimes his extreme ways risked their health.

This led some owners and other trainers to criticize or avoid working with him, causing fewer horses to be entrusted to his stable.

Family Bonds and Care

Even though Masatora Obu appeared harsh, he showed real love for his trainees, especially Midori Makibaō, Kansuke Yamamoto, and his daughter Rika Kousaka.

He kept his emotions in check during regular times, but important races with Rika as the jockey always made him nervous or excited.

As a father, he wanted the best for her while remaining strict to help her grow.

He also played a fatherly role for others, like Makibaō and Kansuke Yamamoto.

Adventures Abroad

In charge of overseas expeditions, Masatora Obu pushed his horses and team even harder during these trips.

In the past, he traveled world-wide and once visited Mongolia, challenging himself in Mongolian sumo and even earning a champion’s title "Arslaan" because of his incredible strength.

Anime Adaptation’s Comedy

In the anime, Masatora Obu's serious character gets some funny upgrades.

He often becomes the target of pranks:

Makibaō hits him in the back of the head with a soccer ball (in the manga, this is done by Kansuke Yamamoto) or steals his sushi, leading to humorous payback from Obu.

Viewers see his lighter, more comedic side in these moments.

Later Years

In the sequel "Taiyō no Makibaō," Masatora Obu becomes close friends with Heishichiro Honda and is promoted to center chief.

He also helps train the talented horse Femme Fatale, who eventually looks at him like a father.

• Masatora Obu was inspired by the real-life trainer Tamio Toyama, who trained the horse Mihono Bourbon.
• Despite his strict ways, he is known as one of the toughest and most athletic trainers in the story.
• His physical strength is shown in tales from his youth, like winning Mongolian sumo championships.

Masatora Obu’s story shows that true strength can come from heart, not just bloodlines.

Whether offering tough love or leading wild training sessions, he believes anyone can become a champion with enough grit.

His mix of seriousness and humor, especially in the anime, makes him a favorite for fans of the series.