Meet Sumomomomomomomomo, the “Horse That Makes Race Commentators Cry”

Sumomomomomomomomo, a Japanese racehorse that recently claimed its maiden win, was dubbed “the horse that makes commentators cry” because of its tongue-twister name.

The three-year-old mare claimed victory at Tokyo’s Oi racecourse a couple of weeks ago and has since become somewhat of a celebrity on Japanese social media. Its name, which is based on a Japanese tongue-twister that means “plums and peaches are both peaches,” captured people’s imagination, and now everyone is rooting for her to win, just so they can hear race commentators struggling to say ‘Sumomomomomomomomo’. Just listen to NHK announcer Izumi Tanaka commentate the horse’s recent victory, and you’ll understand why people want to hear more of it.

“She finally won — the horse with the name that makes race commentators cry!” one person wrote on Twitter.

“I’m finally able to say it properly,” someone else wrote.

 

Horse racing is immensely popular in Japan, but, before her November 2nd win, Sumomomomomomomomo’s insane popularity was determined by her name alone. It was inspired by a Japanese tongue twister that reads: “Sumomo mo momo, momo mo momo, sumomo mo momo mo momo no uchi.”

Translated, the tongue twister means “Plums are peaches, and peaches are peaches, and plums and peaches are both types of peaches.”

Sumomomomomomomomo’s first victory in 12 races made her already high popularity among Japanese horse racing fans skyrocket. There are now Sumomomomomomomomo plush toys being sold at the Tokyo race track, and fans outside the capital have already requested that they be made available online as well. “Sumomochi” desserts have also become insanely popular.

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