Kaori Maeda, Voice of Nice Nature in "Umamusume: Pretty Derby," Celebrates Character's Birthday—Inspired by the Legendary Racehorse Who Passed Away in 2023

Voice actress Kaori Maeda has sparked a buzz on her X account by posting a message celebrating the birthday of Nice Nature, the character she voices in the game "Umamusume: Pretty Derby."

The real-life racehorse that served as the motif, Nice Nature, was born on April 16, 1988, and passed away on May 30, 2023. The "Nice Nature Birthday Donation" campaign—organized by the Certified NPO Retired Horse Association to support the post-racing lives and future of retired horses (primarily local stakes winners)—has continued even after the horse's passing and is still ongoing as of 2026. He remains a legendary horse who was deeply loved by fans during his racing career, his retirement, and even after his death.

Maeda posted two images along with the message: "Happy birthday, Nature! Every day I spend with you is precious, and every moment shines so brightly. I’ll follow you for life! Let’s keep doing our best together!!! With my deepest gratitude." The first image is a photo of a Nice Nature figure in a cheerleader outfit, decorated with pink, handwritten-style text saying "too cute" and two heart marks. The second image shows Maeda herself wearing Nice Nature's signature hairstyle and accessories, including the red ear covers.

In response to this post, fans have shared a flood of celebratory comments, such as "Happy birthday, Nature!", "Happy birthday to Nice Nature again this year!", "Happy birthday to my eternal favorite, Nature!", and "I’ve come to love Nature even more thanks to Kaorin. Happy birthday!"

"Umamusume: Pretty Derby" is a multimedia franchise where "Horse Girls"—characters who inherit the names and souls of real-life racehorses and possess horse ears and tails—aim for victory in races. The series spans various platforms including games, anime, music, and manga. Since the release of the game version in 2021, it has gained massive support, even becoming a social phenomenon. The intense drama woven by the unique Horse Girls continues to captivate fans.

(C) 2021 アニメ「ウマ娘 プリティーダービー Season 2」製作委員会