Ichiban Sakura on the Day the Snow Fell

Miyauchi Farm, a breeder that had produced numerous graded racehorses including Beijing Kinen winner Take Zheng Zhenbao and Saga Kinen winner Meisho Funsen, would officially close down after this year's Arima Memorial.

That was the news I heard from Mr. Matsumoto, whose expression looked somewhat grave.

In contrast, rather than regret or reluctance, Mr. Miyauchi's face looked more like that of someone freed from a long-borne duty.

"I'm terribly sorry to hear that... Is there anything I can do to help?"

After pouring the freshly brewed hot tea into the cups of the two visitors before me, I spoke.

"You're far too kind. I'm the one who rudely imposed on you by coming here."

Setting down the hot tea he had been holding in both hands, Mr. Miyauchi gave me a slight bow.

"It's all right. Also—would bean daifuku be okay for a snack?"

"I would be most grateful."

After exchanging those pleasantries, the three of us sat facing one another in the heated tearoom, quietly drinking black tea.

Even after learning that Miyauchi Farm was about to close, I honestly could not immediately tell what Mr. Miyauchi had come for.

But thanks to Mr. Matsumoto keeping the conversation going, the atmosphere did not become overly serious.

"Actually, there is something I would like to ask of Representative Kitano today."

After drinking more than half his cup of hot tea as though he were not afraid of being burned, Mr. Miyauchi spoke first.

"Representative Kitano, have you heard of the Karei Family?"

Rather than directly stating his purpose, Mr. Miyauchi posed that question.

In every era, there were breeders who insisted on pairing the broodmares and stallions owned by their own farms, breeding the next generation of foals that way.

But that method would inevitably suffer from the drawbacks of