Mejiro Ardan’s grave has been restored by Umamusume fans, who adorned it with tribute pieces honoring his legacy.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby fans have once again warmed the hearts of netizens. Fans recently worked together to restore and pay tribute to the grave of Mejiro Ardan’s real-life counterpart–the racehorse that inspired the Umamusume character of the same name.
Mejiro Ardan was a Japanese racehorse who rose to prominence in the 1980s alongside iconic names such as Oguri Cap and Super Creek, competing in what is often regarded as one of the strongest generations in horse racing history.
Renowned for his consistency in major events, Mejiro’s most notable achievement was his victory at the Takamatsunomiya Hai in 1989. He retired in 1991 and was transferred to China in 2000, where he sired several successful racehorses, including Wu Di.
Following his death in 2002, Mejiro was buried at his farm in Beijing, after which his grave remained largely unattended for years. However, new passionate fans–spawned from the rise of racing game Umamusume–have recently taken heartfelt steps to preserve the legacy of the legendary racehorse.
Fans have revealed the restoration of Mejiro’s grave across the internet, with fans adding meaningful elements to its surroundings to commemorate his career. The renovation now features a stone monument engraved with his racing records, a flower wall–predominantly blue, referencing Mejiro Ardan’s blue hair in Umamusume–a photo stand displaying images of Mejiro, and a designated area for fan offerings, where numerous bouquets have been laid.
According to posts on X, the restoration effort was led by an Umamusume content creator from Douyin known as “Different.”
Umamusume fans continue to surprise with heartfelt tributes
For those unfamiliar, Umamusume is a Japanese video game inspired by real-life racehorses, which are reimagined as anime-style racing girls in the game. Players collect characters and train them to compete in races, including against other players online. The game has also spun off multiple anime projects, including Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray.
The game’s rise in popularity has created one of the most passionate fanbases seen in the industry, as fans continue to surprise with heartfelt tributes to the real-life racehorses.
In the past, fans have raised over US$600,000 to support renovations for Meisho Doto’s stable and even overwhelmed a donation website while contributing to Haru Urara’s support campaign. Mejiro Ardan has become one of many horses who has received admiration far beyond the game itself.
