The community that follows the
horse girls says goodbye with nostalgia to the true protagonist of one of their
most inspiring stories. The legendary racehorse Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi,
who served as a direct motive and inspiration for the creation of the eponymous
racer in the successful Uma Musume Pretty Derby franchise,
died on August 2 at the age of 31. His official support group
confirmed the departure of this historic steed, leaving an indelible legacy
both in Japanese turf and in the hearts of anime fans.
According to the details shared by Shigeo
Nakanishi, a representative of the association that looked after its welfare,
the animal went out to graze normally during the morning at the Yoshino Farm.
About an hour later, he was found lying unable to get up, so veterinary
assistance was required immediately. When it was determined that the treatments
would not work to alleviate his condition, the difficult decision was made to
euthanize him, leaving him to fall asleep peacefully surrounded by the family
who caretaked the farm. The refuge authorities stressed that the steed enjoyed
fresh grass until his last day and enabled a space for fans of the franchise to
send him flowers. Uma Musume's official account issued public
condolences to honor the memory of the noble animal.
Born in 1995 and the son of the legendary
Symboli Rudolf, Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi had a memorable sporting career winning five
of his eleven competitions, most notably his victory at the 1999 Kyoto
Daishoten against illustrious rivals who would later become key characters in
the game, such as Special Week, Mejiro Bright, T.M.
Opera O and Stay Gold. After suffering a severe injury in
the 2000 Arima Kinen, he was retired from the courts to have a quiet life. In
the animated franchise, the character is voiced by seiyuu Yoshino
Aoyama and perfectly reflects the spirit of the real animal: a
cheerful runner with immense potential whose physical endurance constantly
fights against injuries to live up to her unwavering determination.
Knowing that the franchise immortalizes the
exploits and personalities of these incredible animals in its virtual
characters
