Another Japanese rider arrived on Korean shores this week and will make his début at Busan Race Park this coming Friday. Kunihisa Hirase is thirty-years old and has held a licence in Japan since 1996.

Over the course of his career, Hirase has ridden 993 winners from 7050 rides, picking up some notable victories along the way. Most recently, he has ridden at Kanazawa Racecourse where he has been competing alongside former Busan star Toshio Uchida.

Hirase’s arrival takes the size of the Japanese contingent at Busan back up to two after the departure of Eiki Nishimura at the end of last year after an up-and-down few months. He joins Hitomi Miyashita who has quickly become one of the weighing room’s hottest properties since joining last October.

In addition to Hirase and Hitomi, there are two other foreign riders at Busan. South African Martin Wepner is, alongside Hitomi, one of the track’s stars while Eden Cheung of Hong Kong is yet to really get going, currently sidelined through injury after one win from thirteen mounts.

Hirase debuts on the useful four-year old Cheonman Yeongung in race 1 at Busan on Friday.

As ever, Shaka is on the case with pictures and video of Hirase in action.