in japan, because of religious beliefs people were forbidden to eat beef, venison, horse, mutton and other meat from asuka era to meizi era. issue of religion. cattle and horse were also work animals, therefore if people eat cattle and horse meat, people were punished. this custom was publicly decided by the then emperor on april 1, 675. but it is said that the real intention of this custom was to raise cultivation of rice product. this is a commandment (or rule) of buddhism. but difficulty in making a living meant that people secretly ate boar and venison meat. over time people ate beef secretly.