The race was first run in 1976 over a distance of 2,400 metres (1 mile 4 furlongs). It was originally for three-year-old fillies only and was the third leg of the
Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown. In 1996, it was opened to older female horses and was reduced to its present distance. In the same year the
Shuka Sho was established and became the third leg of the Fillies' Triple Crown. Since 1999 it turned into International Grade 1 race, with
Snow Fairy from England, in 2010, being the first winner from outside Japan. The following year she made Japanese flat racing history of being the first ever non-Japanese trained horse to win the same Grade 1 flat race back-to-back (second ever including
Steeplechase, with
Karasi winning
Nakayama Grand Jump between 2005 and 2007). It is the only Grade 1 race that is restricted to fillies and mares aged three or above. The other Grade 1 races for older female horses in Japan, the
Victoria Mile, excludes three-year-olds. ==Records==