Eating horse is not against Japanese values? I remember once perusing a menu, and having recently learned the character for "horse", spotted it on the menu and called it out to my dining companion. It was horse sashimi and she eagerly ordered it. I just thought it was strange and was keen to show off I wasn't illiterate any more, I didn't mean for her to actually order it. But she insisted it was great. The dish arrived and I tried a piece. Off taste and rather gummy, I thought. She devoured the rest. It was an uncommon menu item, I'll give it that.