The real-life racehorse who inspired Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi in Umamusume: Pretty Derby has died aged 31, prompting an official tribute from the franchise.
Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi’s death was announced on August 2 by the horse’s longtime support group. In an initial statement, representative Shigeo Nakanishi said the horse died in his pasture at approximately 10:15 AM local time.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is built around turning real racehorses into anime characters, with their designs and personalities reflecting events from their racing careers.
The franchise’s Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi is voiced by Yoshino Aoyama and is described on the official Umamusume website as an upbeat runner with enormous potential whose body struggles to keep up with her determination. This reflects the real horse’s promising but injury-affected career.
Caretakers explain Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi’s final moments
Nakanishi later provided further details about the horse’s death in a follow-up statement.
Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi went out to his pasture as usual, but was found lying down and unable to get back up approximately one hour later. A veterinarian was called, but treatment was unsuccessful and the decision was made to euthanize him.
Nakanishi said the horse quietly fell asleep while surrounded by Yoshino Farm’s family and thanked everyone who had supported him throughout his retirement.
“Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi was able to go out to pasture until the very end and eat fresh grass up to the day before,” he wrote in a statement translated from Japanese.
The support group has established an area at Yoshino Farm where fans can leave flowers, but asked people not to contact the farm directly.
The official Japanese Umamusume account also paid tribute, acknowledging that Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi served as the inspiration for the character.
“We extend our condolences to everyone involved and sincerely pray for the repose of this great racehorse,” its translated statement reads.
Born on April 6, 1995, Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi was a son of legendary racehorse Symboli Rudolf. According to his official JRA record, he won five of his 11 races, including the 1999 Asahi Challenge Cup and Kyoto Daishoten.
His Kyoto Daishoten victory came against a field containing several horses who would also become major Umamusume characters, including Special Week, Mejiro Bright, T.M. Opera O, and Stay Gold.
Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi suffered a serious left-front leg injury during the 2000 Arima Kinen and was subsequently retired. He later served as a lead horse at Kyoto Racecourse before spending his final years at Yoshino Farm in Miyazaki.
After his owner died in 2011, Nakanishi created the Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi Association to help fund the horse’s continued care. The group later reported an increase in attention after the horse was introduced to a new generation of fans through Umamusume.
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