Saw on Bilibili[^1] that the 21st Century English Newspaper[^2] featured Uma Musume
What an extraordinary encounter this is!
I rushed to the reading room to find it right away
By the time I got there, they’d already swapped to a new issue
I felt really bad interrupting the reading room auntie’s lunch to help me search through back issues
The moment I mentioned that particular newspaper might hold some sentimental value for me, she immediately and cheerfully agreed
The art of cooperation is simply having good manners!
But after searching high and low, we couldn’t find it
The auntie suddenly recalled that another young girl had also come looking for that same issue, and since all the other papers were still there, someone must have taken it
Uma fans[^3] are really something — I just wanted to take a photo as a memento
The auntie kept apologizing, then suddenly noticed the phone in my pocket and suggested I scan the QR code from another issue
I quickly nodded and said sure, I’ll scan it when I get back this weekend
Though I bought the digital version after going back, it just wasn’t the real thing anymore

But today, April 16th, Uma Musume: Road to the Top is premiering![^4]
The classic Triple Crown races of ‘99, a once-in-a-lifetime challenge, winning these races is everyone’s dream
Satsuki Sho, Japanese Derby, Kikuka Sho[^5]
T.M. Opera O, Admire Vega, Narita Top Road[^6]
Promises, passion, unyielding resolve, the path of kings — broadcasting grandly on the day of the Satsuki Sho!!!

[^1]: Bilibili (b站) — a major Chinese video-sharing platform, often compared to YouTube but with a strong anime, gaming, and ACG (Anime, Comic, Games) subculture community.
[^2]: 21st Century English (21世纪英语报) — a weekly English-language newspaper published in China, primarily aimed at middle and high school students for English learning. It often features pop culture topics to engage young readers.
[^3]: “马批” (mǎ pī) — a self-deprecating nickname used by Chinese Uma Musume fans for themselves, following the internet slang pattern of “[topic] + 批” (from Japanese 厨, meaning obsessive fan). It’s used affectionately and humorously within the fandom.
[^4]: “捏” (niē) — an internet slang particle, a cute variation of “呢” (ne), adding a soft, playful tone to the end of a sentence. Similar to adding “~” or a playful exclamation in English.
[^5]: Satsuki Sho (皋月赏), Japanese Derby (日本德比), Kikuka Sho (菊花赏) — the three races that make up the Japanese Triple Crown, equivalent to the 2000 Guineas, The Derby, and the St. Leger in British horse racing.
[^6]: T.M. Opera O (好歌剧), Admire Vega (爱慕织姬), Narita Top Road (成田路) — three famous racehorses who competed in the 1999 Triple Crown races, each winning one of the three legs, making it one of the most dramatic Triple Crown seasons in Japanese racing history.