2014 is the year of the horse, according to the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac animals play an important role in Japanese new year traditions, even though they no longer follow the Chinese lunar calendar. Themed goods featuring the zodiac animal of the year can be seen almost everywhere you go when the new year comes around. Yokohama originated bakery Pompadour created this adorable horse character bun for the occasion!
Wait, what? There’s real horse meat in it?!
The Japanese have been known to eat horse meat, especially enjoying it as basashi (horse sashimi). But the raw delicacy doesn’t come cheap and definitely doesn’t commonly appear on the dining tables of regular families. This cute snack, Uma no Pan (horse bread), makes the pricey meat available at an affordable price of 189 yen (US$1.80). And word is, it’s selling like hotcakes.
But how does it taste? Our reporter Chie tries it, and this is her verdict:
- The horse has an adorable face.
The savory snack fits in the palm, is decorated with shredded leek for a mane, and raisins for its eyes, giving it a cute and kind look. Plus, it’s a charming white horse! Fresh out of a fairytale.
- There is horse meat in it!
This horse bun has a savory filling of horse meat stewed in soy sauce and sugar. Horse meat in a horse bun, this thing’s the real deal! The bread has a soft and chewy texture, which matches the flavorful filling in perfect harmony. The raisin eyes add a timely burst of flavor and boosts the overall satisfaction factor! It’s kind of similar to eating a steamed meat bun, but this meat bun would taste just as fine left cold.
- There’s also a sweeter “Snake Bun”.
Last year was the year of the snake, so they made a snake character bread to commemorate the passing of the year. This one’s shaped like a coronet, with a comical head attached to it. It has a pudding cream filling (no snake meat, don’t worry). Unlike the horse bun, the bread for the snake bun is slightly sweet, fluffy and soft, striking a great balance with its cream filling. This one’s yummy too!
The question is, cultural differences aside, could you bring yourself to eat a pastry containing horse meat?
Reference: Pompadour
Images: RocketNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]
Nullify your New Year’s weight loss resolution with Year of the Horse roll cake
A delicious way to celebrate the Year of the Sheep — cute sheep bread!
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Drink like an ox, eat like a horse! Five Japanese idiomatic phrases to celebrate Year of the Ox
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
Domino’s erupts with a 1kg Cheese Volcano in Japan
These creative, fanciful post boxes from Japan will delight you in so many ways【Photos】
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
Ghibli, One Punch, Fullmetal Alchemist artists create hand-drawn Major Leage Baseball anime video
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Japanese bakery’s new Vegan Curry Bread is awesome enough to please even carnivores【Taste test】
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
Serpentine Winnie the Pooh Year of the Snake plushies, Mickey and Baymax daruma arrive in Japan
2022 is the Year of the Raikou, so let’s ring it in with this traditionally crafted doll
Starbucks teams up with 165-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Snake decorations【Photos】
Video proves how much Japan loves its pastries
Temptations of smartphones, high-calorie foods mean no new horse racing jockeys for Japan next year
Krispy Kreme releases new zodiac doughnuts for the Year of the Snake in Japan
Super-cheap pillow-sized croissants selling in Tokyo
7-Eleven Japan planning to become even more awesome by baking its own bread in-store
We eat Chinese food inspired by Demae Itcho instant ramen to celebrate its 55-year anniversary
Japan is for bread lovers: top five Japanese breads best for cuddling, not eating
The adorable Suica penguin bread — Too cute to eat but too good not to
Sakura Mikuman Too Cute to Eat, We Do So Anyway