Chapter 204 – Shanghai Rhapsody (5)

Horse racing.

When one speaks of horse racing, modern horse racing in particular, it is a form of gambling and sport dearly loved by the British gentry, or rather, by those British gentlemen. Its origins, if I recall correctly, are also in England.

In Japan as well, it was introduced during the Meiji era as “Western-style horse racing,” beginning as an imitation of the foreign model. By the time the country reached the Showa era, it had grown to a certain degree of popularity.

That said, in Japan of the early Showa period, it feels as though the culture of wealthy individuals owning racehorses had not truly taken root. In Europe and America, owning racehorses is one of the status symbols of “those who have money,” but perhaps Japan lacked high-prestige races worthy of such a role.

During the Meiji era, racetracks were