You're staring at the screen, your training run is almost over, and there it is: the Osaka Hai. For a lot of players, this race is just a stepping stone or a checkmark on the way to the Tenno Sho (Spring). But if you’re trying to build a competitive Umamusume: Pretty Derby roster, treating the Osaka Hai as an afterthought is a massive mistake. Honestly, this race is one of the trickiest Mid-distance G1s in the game because of where it sits on the calendar and the specific quirks of the Hanshin track.
It's a 2000m turf race. Right-handed. In the spring of your Senior year. Sounds simple, right? It isn’t.
The Osaka Hai represents a specific "meta" shift in the game's mechanics. Because it's a 2000m race, it occupies that awkward space where both "Milers" and "Long-distance" specialists think they can win. In reality, it favors a very specific type of stamina-to-speed ratio that most casual players ignore. If you don't have your acceleration skills timed for that final corner at Hanshin, you're going to get swallowed by the pack before the straight even begins.
The Hanshin 2000m Trap
Let's talk about the track itself. Hanshin is brutal. Unlike Tokyo, which is often about raw top-end speed and long, sweeping turns, Hanshin has a shorter straight and a steep slope near the finish line.
If your girl lacks Power, that hill will eat her alive. You’ve probably seen it happen. Your Umamusume is leading by two lengths, she hits the 200m mark, and suddenly it looks like she’s running through molasses. That’s the "Hanshin Slope." It’s not just about Speed (Spd); it’s about having enough Power (Pow) to maintain velocity while climbing.
Most people focus entirely on the Speed cap, especially in the newer scenarios like Project L'Arc or U.A.F. Ready!!. While hitting 1600 Speed is great, if your Power is sitting at a measly 900, you aren't winning the Osaka Hai against high-level CM (Champions Meeting) or LoH (League of Heroes) builds. You need that "oomph" to get over the rise.
Stamina: How Much is "Safe"?
For a 2000m race, you don't need the 1000+ Stamina required for the Arima Kinen or the Tenno Sho (Spring). However, the Osaka Hai is a high-intensity burn.
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Aim for roughly 700 to 800 Stamina. If you have "Gold" recovery skills like Maestro of the Depths (Arcana Maestro), you can get away with less. But be careful. If the weather is "Heavy" or "Bad," the stamina drain increases significantly. I’ve seen 650 Stamina builds collapse at the 150m mark because the RNG gave them a rainy day and they didn't have the guts to push through.
Which Umamusume Actually Rule the Osaka Hai?
Not everyone is built for this. Since the Osaka Hai is a "Medium" distance G1, you have a huge pool to choose from, but a few specific girls consistently overperform due to their unique skills (Uniques).
Kitasan Black (New Year) is an obvious monster here. Her unique skill triggers exceptionally well on the Hanshin layout. Because she thrives on being at the front, the shorter straight at Hanshin works in her favor—she can kick into high gear and finish the race before the "chasers" have enough track to catch her.
Then you have Mejiro Ramonu. She was essentially designed to dominate mid-distance. Her ability to stack proficiency and trigger mid-leg speed boosts makes her a nightmare in the Osaka Hai. If you’re running her, you’re basically betting on the fact that she’ll be so far ahead by the final corner that the slope won't matter.
But don't sleep on the "Betweener" (Sashi) or "Chaser" (Oikomi) meta either. Mr. C.B. or even the classic Mejiro Dober can work if you time the inheritance right. Dober’s Kanata, Beyond the Horizon is a legendary acceleration skill for this specific race length, provided she’s in the right position (usually 5th or 6th) when hitting the final corner.
The Skill "Must-Haves" for Success
Stop just clicking every gold skill that pops up. You need a plan.
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- Non-Stop Girl: This is arguably the most important acceleration skill for anyone not in the "Runner" (逃げ) position. Since the Hanshin track can get congested, this skill allows your girl to find a lane and explode forward without getting blocked.
- Right-Handed & Spring Umamusume: These are "green" passive skills. They are cheap to buy and give a flat stat boost. Since Osaka Hai is always Right-handed and always in the Spring, these are free wins for your stat sheet.
- Mid-distance Straight/Corner: Obviously.
- The "Slope" Skills: Because of that hill I mentioned, skills that trigger on upgrades/slopes are surprisingly effective here.
It’s also worth mentioning "Position Sense." In a 2000m race, if your Umamusume gets boxed in early, it’s game over. There isn't enough time to recover like there is in a 3200m marathon. You want her to find her lane early and stay there.
Why Your Training Fails in the Senior Year
The Osaka Hai happens in Late March (Senior Year). This is a high-pressure time. Usually, you're trying to balance final stat gains with the need to pick up G1 wins for those sweet, sweet inheritance bonuses.
A common mistake? Over-training in the weeks leading up to it and entering the race with "Low" energy or a "Fatigued" status. In the Uma Musume mechanics, being fatigued significantly increases the chance of a "Late Start" or a "掛かり" (Kagari/Overwork) state where your girl wastes stamina early.
If you're playing the Reach for the Stars scenario, you should be using your training points to shore up Guts (Root) and Power during the winter months. By the time the Osaka Hai rolls around, your Speed should already be nearing the 1000 mark. If you’re still scrambling for Speed in March, your build is likely behind the curve.
The "Secret" Strategy: Debuffing the Leaders
If you find yourself struggling to win with raw stats, consider the "Nice Nature" approach. Running a "Debuffer" in your team specifically for the Osaka Hai can wreck the competition.
Since the race is mid-distance, skills like Confidence or Gaze (which lower the speed or stamina of others) are incredibly effective. Because the field in the Osaka Hai is often packed with high-speed runners, a well-timed stamina debuff can cause the leaders to "tire out" right as they hit that final Hanshin slope. It's a bit of a "dirty" tactic, but in a competitive League of Heroes environment, it's often the difference between a Gold and Silver rank.
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Nuance: The Luck Factor
Let’s be real for a second. Sometimes, you do everything right. You have 1200 Speed, 900 Power, perfect skills, and you still lose to a random NPC or a lower-stat rival. That’s the nature of the "Block."
The Hanshin 2000m is notorious for "Blocking." If a Runner in front of you slows down and your girl doesn't have the "Intelligence" (Wisdom/Wis) stat to path around them, she’ll just stay stuck behind their tail. This is why Wisdom is so vital. Aim for at least 800-900 Wisdom to ensure her AI is smart enough to actually use the skills you bought her.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
If you want to stop losing the Osaka Hai and start dominating it, here is exactly what you need to do in your next training session:
- Prioritize Power over raw Speed in the early Senior stages. You need at least 800 Power to handle the Hanshin hill without losing momentum.
- Pick up "Green Skills" early. Buy Right-Handed and Spring Umamusume as soon as the hints appear. They are the most cost-effective way to boost your performance.
- Target 750 Stamina. Don't over-invest in Stamina, but don't ignore it either. If you're under 700, you are gambling with the weather RNG.
- Check your Acceleration timing. Make sure your gold skills (like Angling x Scheming for Runners or Kanata for Betweeners) actually trigger at the 2000m mark. Some skills are distance-specific or position-specific.
- Keep Wisdom high. 800+ Wisdom is the "sweet spot" to avoid getting blocked in the final turn.
The Osaka Hai isn't just another race on the calendar. It's a test of whether your training has been balanced or if you've just been chasing big numbers. Fix your Power, watch your Stamina, and stop underestimating the Hanshin slope. Luck stays a factor, but a smart build minimizes the damage.
Resources & References:
- GameWith Uma Musume Strategy Guide (Japanese)
- Uma Musume Library - Track Mechanics & Skill Trigger Data
- Personal testing within the "U.A.F. Ready!!" and "Project L'Arc" training scenarios.
Note on Versions: This guide assumes you are playing the current global or JP version of Umamusume: Pretty Derby as of early 2026. Meta shifts occur with new Support Cards, so always check if a new "Best-in-Slot" card has replaced the ones mentioned here.
The Osaka Hai is waiting. Go get that trophy.