If you’re an Umamusume: Pretty Derby fan and you’re in Bangkok on December 7, the Umamusume Community Event is where you need to be! A celebration of all things Umamusume and horse racing, the event will take place at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club alongside the country’s biggest horse race, the H.M. The King’s Cup.The day’s activities will cosplay races, idol meet-and-greets, a merch market, and several guest appearances!
Anime Corner had the opportunity to interview Nat Phanphitphat of Next Meet (the event’s organizer) and chat about one of Thailand’s most memorable otaku events.
Disclaimer: Parts of this interview were edited for brevity and fluency.
Q: What inspired Next Meet to create the Umamusume Community Event?
A: We, Next Meet, have been organizing events focused on animation, comics, and games since 2022 under various brands such as Addict Con and Circle Con.
In the past, we also collaborated with Nexon to organize the Blue Archive 4th Anniversary event in Thailand.
The spark that led us to focus on an Umamusume was the 2024 Thailand Game Show. Cygames had a booth that attracted a massive gathering of fans. Simultaneously, we noticed a community of fans gathering at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club (RBSC) to watch races together—including the first viral Cosplay Racing event in September.
Q: Compared to the cosplay race held at the RBSC in September, the Umamusume Community Event seems significantly bigger. Were there any organizational challenges that came along with planning?
A: This event is indeed significantly larger.
The major challenge was negotiating with the RBSC to secure a space in the grandstand to host a marketplace for creators and cosplayers. This was something the RBSC had never done before. Additionally, managing an event of this scale is a challenge in itself. We are anticipating over 1,000 attendees based on our pre-registration numbers.
Q: We asked the RBSC this question, but we’d love to pose it to Next Meet as well. How did Thailand’s horse racing community respond to cosplayers dressed as horse girls?
A: From our discussions with the RBSC, they view the arrival of the Umamusume: Pretty Derby Global version as a turning point that has sparked interest in real horse racing among Thai people. The existing racing community sees this as an opportunity to revitalize the sport in Thailand after a period of stagnation. While many Thai fans have been following the game since its Japanese release, this year truly marks a massive surge in popularity here, bridging the gap between anime fans and racing enthusiasts.
Q: What impact do you hope the cosplay races will have on the cosplaying and horse racing community?
A: We’re already seeing a significant increase in interest in horse racing because of events like this and our event. This is reflected in the growing number of spectators, which in turn generates economic benefits for the racecourse and related parties.
Q: Your social media posts show an expansive list of guest cosplayers, streamers, YouTubers, and idols. Is there a confirmed list of performers for the mini concert?
A: We have confirmed that four Thai idol groups, HAPPYTAIL, Raify, 2nd Dimension, and Requill, will be hosting meet-and-greet sessions at our activity zone. However, there will be no full-on-stage concert performances. This is because our event runs concurrently with the prestigious H.M. The King’s Cup. That takes priority and requires constant audio announcements throughout the day. In addition to the idols, other special guests will be present, and a merchandise area will be open until 6:00 pm (18:00).
Q: Is there anything you’d like to say to the international Umamusume community who’s unaware that events like this take place?
A: This event is a major milestone for the community, serving as the grand finale for 2025. We invite fans from all over the world to witness this creative blend of Thai cosplay culture and traditional horse racing. Footage and atmosphere from our previous gatherings have already reached international eyes and received very positive feedback.
B: Lastly, what’s the Thai otaku scene like? When the international weeb community thinks about Asian countries that are anime hotspots that aren’t Japan, it always seems to be the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan. Seeing such an exciting event occur in a country most normally wouldn’t associate with anime garnered a lot of attention. What’s it like there?
A: Over the past two years, the anime scene in Thailand has grown exponentially. That growth has been fueled by easy access to streaming and a constant stream of offline events organized by various distributors. Cosplay events now occur almost every month, often with specific themes to keep things exciting.
One of the most significant indicators of Thailand becoming a pop-culture hotspot is the collaboration between gamescom and Thailand Game Show, resulting in gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2025. This event received great feedback from developers, investors, and regional fans. Additionally, Anime Festival Asia (AFA) will return to Thailand in 2026. We also get a surge of concerts from Japanese artists and Anisong singers. That’s proof that our otaku scene is vibrant. We believe this is the perfect time for anime lovers to experience the energy in Thailand.
Umamusume Community Event’s Details
Next Meet’s Umamusume Community Event will feature six cosplay races after the H.M. King’s Cup races. If you can’t attend the event in person, you can watch the day’s activities livestreamed on the RBSC’s YouTube Channel. The confirmed female cosplayers include:
- Renmi24
- Khunbbie
- Dango’Meaw
- zerosuka
- Lapis Lazuli
- Taotan
- LOLA.Cosplayer
- Anong Noon
- Kototo
- Hakune Cos
- Mirin_Shu
- JasperZ
- Meenfox
- Fairy HAPPYTAIL
- Sunsun 2nd Dimension
- Orangeji Requill
- Dear Raify
The Umamusume Community Event’s male cosplayers and featured guests include
- Qvengersski
- Warm Chaiyo
- ToeyOnFire
- Uma Overdose
- KhunThong
- Cosbit
- AdAofTV
- Pochi Pochi
- Calldamanny
- YaiMakMak
- Gssspotted
- Pingiez
- Nakatokung
- Omoro The Bunny
- Nergal Near
Participants who win the cosplay races will win a trip to Khao Yai National Park and the opportunity to visit a racing stable and spend the day with champion Thai racehorses. Thanks to the RBSC, international attendees will receive a special rate at the Malaysia Hotel Bangkok.
Thank you to Next Meet and the Royal Bangkok Sports Club for their assistance in these articles. Check out Next Meet’s socials here.
ALSO READ
The Royal Bangkok Sports Club: Umamusume, Cosplayer Races, and Thai Horse Racing
Images: ©RBSC
Event Flyer: © Next Meet
Umamusume Logos © Cygames, Inc.
Participate In Discussions