Umamusume.
They are born to run.
They inherit otherworldly names and are inspirited by dreams
most dramatic and wonderful.
Now, they run ever forward.
That is their destiny.
No one knows
how the races that lie in their futures will end.
Even so, they continue to run,
aiming only toward the goal in front of them.
From the outside, Yamano Piache surges into position with 800 meters remaining.
The ever-popular Cloud Earth is currently fifteen lengths behind the lead!
She's heading for the outside.
The racers have now passed the 600-meter mark!
And now, they're rounding the fourth corner!
We've reached the homestretch of the Japanese Derby!
Currently in the lead is Luna Swallow!
Luna Swallow stands at the head of the pack!
What's this?! Those gorgeous golden locks can only mean...
Gold City! Here she comes!
Gold!
Will she overtake the lead?!
There she is.
The Umamusume beauty that only comes around once a century...
But it seems she's more than just her looks.
Well, we won't know for sure until the race ends.
This is the Japanese Derby after all.
This race's homestretch pushes a racer beyond their limits...
Unlocking potential that they weren't even aware of.
200 meters to go!
Another runner has suddenly surged to the front!
Merry Beauty! It's Merry Beauty!
MERRY BEAUTY
Look at those strong strides!
Gold City's struggling to keep up!
Merry Beauty's three lengths, now four lengths ahead!
She just keeps going! Can Luna Swallow catch up from the inside?!
Following from the outside is Pyro March!
From even further out comes Duel Dagger! Gold City!
And first goes to Merry Beauty! Our winner is Merry Beauty! Merry Beauty!
Six whole lengths?! That's insane!
Take a look at this, Shibasaki!
She won by six lengths! Six freakin' lengths!
Would you calm down, Jo?
Instead of watching races on your phone, focus on the one in front of us.
Oh, c'mon...
Like this could even compare...
HASHIMA, GIFU PREFECTURE KASAMATSU RACECOURSE
All right, today's racers have entered the track.
Hold up, are those new shoes?
Yup! I hope they don't get too dirty today.
All right, racers, say "Cheese!"
- Cheese! - I'm gonna run so good today.
Not much we can do.
National races are on a different level from the regionals.
That includes facilities, staff, and even the Umamusume.
However, the regionals still have their charms if you--
There aren't any stars here.
Pardon?
A racer people can see themselves in.
Someone you wanna cheer on from the bottom of your heart.
A real star.
What... was that?
GIFU KASAMATSU UMAMUSUME TRAINING CENTER ACADEMY
ENTRANCE CEREMONY
Starting today, I'm a student at this academy!
Joy Maker.
Here.
South Heroine.
My racing school life is finally getting started!
From here on, I'll study and train super hard!
Then someday, I'll be a racer!
- Belno Light. - Here!
Sekai Toha.
- Here. - So these are my classmates.
- Walk Dancer. - I bet they're all super fast...
- Fujimasa March. - Here.
Fujimasa March?!
She's the scholarship student who got the top time during the entrance exam.
- Norn Ace. - Here.
Norn Ace's super popular back home!
Rudy Lemono.
Here.
- Mini the Lady. - Here.
There are troublemakers no matter where you go.
But that's Kasamatsu Academy for you. Every last student has their own quirks--
- I made it. - No, you're late.
Speaking of quirky...
- Where's your uniform? - Hm? What's a yooni firm?
I think I see the problem here.
- Why's she wearing her jersey? - And she's filthy.
For now, just take a seat.
You can sit next to Belno Light.
Wait, what?!
N-nice to meet you...
Why's she staring at me like that...
All right, listen up, class.
Thank goodness...
While Umamusume have a number of career paths available to them,
Kasamatsu Tracen Academy specializes in training racers.
Under our guidance, you will build up your running skills
and eventually enter races.
15 COURSES
Regional races are held at 15 racecourses nationwide.
Of those, you students will be debuting here, at Kasamatsu Racecourse.
Just getting right into it, huh?
Why's his map so good?!
Should you perform well,
you may even be invited to the nearby Nagoya Racecourse.
There, you can run in the Tokai Derby,
the Tokai region's most prestigious race.
Only a handful of racers make it that far,
but if you do, only the highest of glory awaits you.
Huh?
That's just the regionals though, right? What about the Twinkle Series?
Ah... The national races, yes?
Well, that's not something you need to worry about.
The racers there are on a whole other level.
A whole other level...
Nice.
Sounds like fun.
What do you--
SNORE
She's sleeping?!
Was she just talking in her sleep?
- I'm so hungry! - What's on the menu today?
I didn't make a single friend.
I really need to stop being such a shut-in and put myself out there more.
She's on her own too.
Well, she didn't seem like a bad person.
And I did just say I should put myself out there more!
H-hey there!
Can I sit here?
Thank you!
ALL ITEMS ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT!
Can you believe the cafeteria's all-you-can-eat?
I suppose a healthy appetite is key for growing Umamusume!
I even took two whole croquettes myse--
Chef! We're out of ingredients!
We're even out of rice!
Who's the wise guy who said we should do all-you-can-eat?
Wait, that was me!
- Hey, check it out... - Wow...
Is that... all for her?
- Wait, is the girl next to her... - No way...
There goes my appetite...
Ah, h-hey, wait!
Do you want to be friends with--
Seconds, please.
CLOSED
But why...
Um, if you're still hungry, you can take mine.
Can I?!
The hell's her deal?
They're totally out of place.
Let's go, sweetie! It's getting dark!
Coming!
Oh you. Look at your clothes...
A bunch of grass got on me!
Hey, Mama, can I go down the slide one more time?
- Okay, just once. - Yay!
KASAMATSU TRACEN ACADEMY DORMITORY
Yo, Dust Bunny.
You're gettin' back pretty late, aren'tcha?
- The hell were you doin' out so-- - My time was slower today.
Did I mess up my pace? I better fix it...
IGNORED
- Ah, good eve-- - Hey, you! Don't ignore me!
When I talk to you, you reply, got that?!
The hell's your problem?!
What's going on?!
Hey, cut that out!
- Shut up, runt. - We're the same height!
So Dust Bunny,
looks like you're my roommate.
Thing is, I've just got so much luggage
and it takes up so much space.
Which means there's nowhere for you to sleep.
STOREROOM
So sorry about this,
but you think you could sleep here tonight, little Dust Bunny?
The storeroom?! Just what are you trying to--
I'm not sure why you're upset, but fighting's bad.
Let's all get along!
And roger that on the room. Good luck unpacking.
See ya.
- The hell's her deal? - Maybe she's just stupid?
How boring.
STOREROOM
A whole room to myself!
My very own room!
With fluffy blankets! And pillows!
I even have electricity!
Amazing... Luxury as far as the eye can see!
Am I in heaven?!
VISION MAY DIFFER FROM REALITY
The food's extra tasty and it's all-you-can-eat!
And all my new friends are so considerate!
Thank you so much for letting me attend Kasamatsu Academy...
Mom.
TA-DA
Well?
Aren't you a cutie! It looks good on you!
But wow... I can't believe you're going to the academy.
When you were little, your knees were so weak...
It's all thanks to you, Mom.
You gave me all those massages every single day.
But are you sure? I know the academy costs a lot...
Don't you worry about that.
Compared to our grocery bills, it was pocket change.
I'm really, truly sorry about that...
Don't be.
There's nothing wrong with a child who likes to eat.
Eat as much as you like, run as much as you like...
And become the Umamusume you were meant to be.
STOREROOM
Five o'clock in the morning.
Surely our little Dust Bunny is fast asleep.
But too bad!
She won't escape me, even in her dreams!
Now then... Ahem.
Rise and shine! Wakey, wakey, Dust Bunny!
Huh?
Did she pack up and go home already?
TRAINING SCHEDULE 4:00 STRETCH...
We've reached the thousand-meter mark!
Just who will take home the Tokai Derby crown?!
At last, the real race begins!
From way outside comes Kitahara Jones! He's making his move!
Kitahara Jones speeds up! Kitahara Jones...
takes home the gold!
She saw everything...
Gray hair... Almost like ash...
Those are some flexible knees.
I didn't get much sleep.
Good morning! Did you sleep okay last night?
Yes, like a rock!
Huh? Wait, in the storeroom?
All right, listen up!
Uh, so today, we're going to show you how racing with gates works.
You'll be running 800 meters on the dirt course.
You'll run on similar tracks at your debut races, so treat this like the real deal.
You'll race in groups of four.
And remember,
the race doesn't start until the gates open.
No crap. We're not morons.
No way, look!
Those are trainers! Do you think they'll scout us?
Training sweats?
Wait, you don't know?
Trainers are the ones who oversee our race training.
Once you've been scouted by a trainer and join their team, you can enter races.
- Oh. - She doesn't look interested.
Now then... Who am I scouting this year?
I'm thinking Fujimasa March.
Hey, wait, she's my first pick!
Wait, you guys too?! Forget it!
I had my eyes on her even before she entered the school!
Will we finally witness a star being born?
I doubt it.
Ah, they're starting.
Look, it's March!
Right, on your mark...
Get set...
Start!
What a clean start!
Her form's sharp too!
She's got the makings of a racer, all right!
Looks like we've found this gen's ace, right Jo?
Huh...
She's pretty good.
Time, 50.8 seconds!
- Fifty seconds?! - That's it! I call dibs!
- Come on! That's no fair! - Amazing.
- Please consider... - No wonder she got a scholarship.
- The kid's got talent. - No, join my team!
Could you not interrupt the lesson?
Not that it matters.
Not like she'd join my team anyway.
Oh well. Next group.
That ashen-haired Umamusume is a new student here?
Whoa, she really is flexible.
STRETCH
Isn't she a little too flexible?
Okay, we've got this!
NOD
Don't lose to the little Dust Bunny!
- No way that's happening! - No way!
What are you doing now?
On your mark...
Get set...
Start!
H-hold on, what are you doing?!
- My shoelace came undone... - Your shoelace?!
You shoulda tied your shoes before you entered the gates!
Come on! We're running out of time!
At this rate...
we'll never catch up...
- First place is mine! - It's mine!
Huh?!
She's fast! But more importantly...
What's with that running stance?!
How can she run leaning forward like that?!
Is it her shoulders? Her back?
No...
it's her knees!
Their insane flexibility allows for that insane form!
There aren't any stars here.
A racer people can see themselves in.
Someone you wanna cheer on from the bottom of your heart.
I finally found one...
At last, a star!
Time, 51.1 seconds!
I can't believe my shoelaces came undone.
I need to be more careful.
Wh-what the hell...
What the hell even are you?!
H-hey, hey! H-h-hold on a sec!
Ouch!
- Ah, it's Kitahara Jones. - Please forget that!
You there! What's your name?!
Oguri Cap.
"Cap".
As in "peak"...
That's a great name.
The name's Jo Kitahara!
How'd you like to take on the world with me, Oguri Cap?!
OGURI CAP
Next time on Umamusume: Cinderella Gray!
Episode 2: Let Me Race.