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© 2024 AFP'Suspense' of slowest horse race wins new fans in Japan
By Hiroshi HIYAMA OBIHIRO, Hokkaido©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
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© 2024 AFP
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Moonraker
Isn't there enough cruelty in Japan already?
Gene Hennigh
If thoroughbreds were born to run, banba were bred to haul things
That, from the article, says it all. The horses are well taken care of and are not mistreated in any way. If it is all right to breed races horses until their legs can hold their weight and they have to be euthanized with broken ankles so be it for you. These races are more interesting to me and (obviously) to many others. These horses are doing what they've always done and the thrill watching them slowly race is radically interesting.
Moonraker
You have absolutely no idea about that. Look at the other traditions in this country that involve animals, even horses, and cruelty is par for the course. Perhaps your blind "love of Japan" blinkers you to the inherent cruelty of having a human force a horse to drag a heavy weight. How about you do it, for the fun of others?
It's not. Your whataboutery fails here.
robert maes
This is pure animal torture. Nothing else and reveals the true spirit of many Japanese.
to enjoy inflicting pain to others. I had my dogs stolen, tortured and finally killed and all the police did was to harass me. The foreigner
ushosh123
Some of the things human convince themselves of is simply amazing.
Cruelty is cruelty like many things we do.
Is a whip involved in this one to? Or is it just a love tap.
Moonraker
It's frankly shocking that cruelty can be justified by tradition. Some people need to think where their compassion and empathy has gone. A world without these is one that will fail.