Horse-related words are common in our daily lives, making them feel familiar. Did you know that many election terms include references to horses? Why is the horse so prominent in elections?
Kanji and words often originate from scenes or events they depict. Let’s explore how horses are connected to election-related words and uncover how historical images of horses and humans come to mind. Here, we introduce the relationship between horses and election terminology.
Election Terms Related to Horses
In the current COVID-19 era, public attention is focused on virus transmission and vaccines. While young people in Tokyo are anxious about when they can get vaccinated, news related to the current prime minister, who announced he will not seek re-election as his term ends, is also making headlines.
There is daily coverage on who will become the next prime minister after Suga’s resignation and who will run in the election. During this, pay attention to election terms. Did you know many of these words involve horses?
First, please see the news articles below.
Shiro Tazaki questions whether support for former Prime Minister Abe by Takashi Tachibana is a ‘stalking horse’—says ‘By riding along later, it can influence the Kishida administration.’
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/eb717ad891974c1a46ea9df944eebd8578061e96
Source: Yahoo News, September 13, 2021: Sports Hochi
Presidential election: Laughter from Abe and Aso as Kishida and Suga face off
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ab4290a7b142c646eb13706dcd11a92000fab607
Source: Yahoo News, August 31, 2021: FRIDAY Digital
Of the LDP presidential race, Ishiba withdraws… expected to declare candidacy at faction meeting on the 15th
https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/20210914-OYT1T50048/
Source: Yomiuri Online, September 14, 2021
As you can see, many words such as ‘candidacy,’ ‘rival,’ ‘horse race,” ‘one-on-one fight,’ and ‘stalking horse’ contain the character for horse. These are words related to both horses and elections.
Noticing the presence of the character for horse in news stories makes us curious why so many horses are hidden in politics. Let’s learn a little about the connection between horses and elections through this article.
What is the origin of ‘candidacy’?
The term ‘candidacy’ in elections comes from the idea of mounting a horse and going into battle. It’s a metaphor that describes politicians ‘riding into’ the election race, much like soldiers mounted on horses entering a battlefield. The origin of the word traces back to the image of a person on horseback heading into battle. In political terms, this figuratively represents running for office as a contest or battle, akin to a martial combat on horseback.
While both ‘candidacy’ and ‘running for office’ are used, there are subtle differences. ‘Candidacy’ specifically refers to declaring one’s entry into the race, while ‘running for office’ describes the act itself. The correct expression is ‘announced candidacy for the election.’
What is ‘shomai’ (dismounting from a horse)?
The phrase ‘shomai’ (dismounting from a horse) is often heard during election periods. Many people casually understand the meaning of ‘shomai’ as leaving the horse behind when speaking about elections.
By origin, ‘shomai’ refers to the act of riding a horse or going into battle. It specifically describes a general or leader who rides a horse to battle. The metaphor is that politicians ‘dismount’ when leaving the campaign trail, similar to how a soldier dismounts from a horse when ending a fight.
In elections, ‘shomai’ is used to symbolize stepping down or withdrawing from a candidacy. Although both ‘shomai’ and ‘toko’ (standing for candidacy) are used, ‘shomai’ emphasizes the act of stepping off from the race, reflecting a formal withdrawal process. The correct phrase is ‘announced withdrawal from candidacy’.
What is ‘gebo’ (stabling horse)?
While ‘gebo’ (stabling horse) is not frequently heard during campaigns or news, it is a term often used in discussions about the election process. It describes the act of stabling a horse in a stable and metaphorically refers to supporting or backing a candidate secretly or indirectly.
Historically, ‘gebo’ originated from the act of stabling horses. In political speech, it is used metaphorically to mean supporting a candidate discreetly or behind the scenes, much like horses are stabled in a barn away from the public eye.
This term emphasizes a quieter form of support, akin to a behind-the-scenes backing in an election.
Summary
As shown, many words involving the character for horse are related to both horses and politics. The prevalence of horse-related words indicates that horses played an essential role in daily life in the past. Today, even in politics, many words include references to horses, illustrating how closely connected they once were.
Since horses historically went into battle alongside humans, countries often used the term ‘battle’ in election-related language, reflecting the significant role horses played. This shows that horses used to be much more familiar and integral to everyday life than they are now.