Do Japanese people eat horse meat?

I lived in Japan for three years and never saw horse meat on the menu. Mostly they eat ocean fish and some beef. I would imagine that if a Japanese farmer had an old horse about to die he might consider eating it but as a diet staple, don't think so. Like alot of these folk tales one first has to consider that Japan is a pretty small place with lots of people so raising horses for food would be a very expensive proposition. The cattle they raise are few and far between and very expensive at your local eatery. P.S. They don't herd cats for food either.