Good news has once again arrived for Uma Musume and Japanese horse racing fans. The crowdfunding campaign to renovate Northern Lake Farm, home to Meisho Doto, one of the real-life horses featured in the Uma Musume series, successfully reached its funding goal of JPY15 million (approximately IDR1.6 billion) in just three hours after its launch on Friday, 24 October 2025.
According to the project’s crowdfunding page on Readyfor.jp, Northern Lake Farm explained that the campaign was launched due to the deteriorating condition of the farm’s facilities, which have shown signs of ageing since the property was purchased in 2020. Issues include leaking and damaged roofs, low ceilings that make stalls uncomfortably warm, narrow corridors, and the lack of a proper indoor bathing area, forcing caretakers to wash horses outside the stable.
Encouraged by online supporters, the farm decided to open a crowdfunding campaign with an initial goal of JPY15 million. If the campaign exceeds its target, additional funds will be used for more extensive renovations and operational maintenance.
The campaign reached its initial goal in just three hours and 48 minutes, with support pouring in not only from Japan but also from overseas fans of Uma Musume and horse racing. As of 25 October 2025, the campaign has collected JPY47.8 million (around IDR 5.1 billion) and will remain open until 22 December 2025.
Yoshie Sasaki, representing Northern Lake Farm, expressed gratitude to everyone who supported the initiative. While the farm was aware of the attention drawn by Meisho Doto and its feline mascot, Meto, Sasaki admitted they did not expect the target to be achieved so quickly.
Initially, the farm had scaled back its renovation plans due to rising construction costs. However, thanks to the overwhelming response, Northern Lake Farm will now be able to carry out the full renovation as originally envisioned, including the addition of two horse bathing areas instead of one. The upgraded facilities are expected to improve the well-being of the horses and create a more comfortable working environment for staff.
Northern Lake Farm also plans to introduce new stretch goals to keep the campaign running, while asking for continued support and patience from donors as the project progresses.
Located in Niikappu, Hokkaido, Northern Lake Farm is known for caring for retired racehorses from Japan’s horse racing scene. The farm currently houses Meisho Doto, who was recently released in the Uma Musume Global version on 21 October 2025. The farm was also home to Taiki Shuttle, who passed away in August 2022.
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The Indonesian Anime Times | This article is also available on our Indonesian page
