Practice JLPTMeaning
桜肉 (さくらにく, Sakuraniku) is Sakura niku — a Japanese food (meats).
What is Sakura niku?
Raw horse meat is called sakura or sakuraniku because of its pink color. When fresh horse meat is cut, the flesh looks a vibrant pink color so it was called the sakura meat. However, horse meat contains many elements that oxidize easily so once it comes in contact with air it oxidizes fairly quickly and turns a brownish red color. The second reason for the name originates from the historical background. During Edo Period of Japan, due to sumptuary laws and Buddhism, there were periods of time when eating meat was not permitted. People were not able to openly eat horse meat, and so sakura meat was a secret term used to refer to horse meat.