With globalization comes a more international sharing of scientific knowledge. In the 21st century, what researchers discover about horses in one part of the world can benefit researchers in many other parts of the world, through the common international language of English.

But that wasn’t the case in previous centuries. Until the second half of the 20th century, most equine research was published in the language of the country where the research occurred. Some Western European-language texts (French, German, or Spanish, for example) might have been shared among fellow international researchers. But publications in other parts of the world—particularly Asia—likely stayed isolated within their linguistic boundaries.

Today, some scientists are looking back at these older scientific works that never made it onto the international scene. And they’re recognizing not only the importance of those works—and how they might have shaped future research within their own country—but also how they could have been useful to worldwide science at the time.

That’s the case for a pair of Japanese researchers: Atsushi Hiraga, DVM, PhD, researcher and veterinarian at the Hidaka Training and Research Center of Japan Racing Association (JRA), in Hokkaido, and Shigeru SUGANO, PhD, Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo