Biography

Japanese Olympic rider Yoshiaki Oiwa (41), who is based in Germany, competed at Badminton in 2017 gaining a career best result finishing in 8^th place. He also made history when winning the CCI3* at Bramham (Calle 44) and is now the most successful Japanese rider. In 2016 with the Duke of Cavan he represented Japan at the Rio Olympic Games – his third Olympic appearance.

Yoshi began riding as a junior high school student and took up eventing during his time at University. In 2001 he moved to the UK in order to pursue eventing trained by Andrew Hoy and in 2008 he moved to Germany. He now trains with German rider Dirk Schrade.

Yoshi first came to Badminton in 2005 with Voyou du Roc – a horse that was 10^th at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with fellow Japanese rider Masaru Fuse. Yoshi and Voyou were third after cross country but dropped to a final 11^th place.

He earned Best Equestrian Athlete; award at the Japanese sports awards in 2005, ’07 And ’11. In 2012 he gained much media attention at the London OG when he unexpectedly led the dressage phase (although the pair was eliminated cross country).

Yoshi comes from a family of Olympians; his aunt was an international figure skater and is now an Olympic judge and his uncle won a silver medal in swimming at the Rome Olympic Games

In his day job Yoshi works for the Japanese optical lens company Nittoh. Outside of eventing he enjoys music, catching up with news from Japan, Japanese food and Japanese Anime (animation).

Duke of Cavan owned by the rider, is 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. He is by Courage II (also the sire of Badminton entries Cooleys Rorke Drift, Ringwood Sky Boy). He is out of a mare by Ricardo Z (the sire of Fenya’s Elegance and Badminton entry Sportsfield Othello)

Duke was produced by Millie Dumas to three-star (the pair won the U25C2* at Tattersalls) and acquired by Yoshi at the end of 2014. Yoshi describes Duke as ‘a very powerful horse – a little bit too powerful for little Japanese man’.