The Beautiful and Mysterious Animals that Enhance the Japanese Landscape
Japan has many wonderful tourist destinations, each of which is home to adorable animals unique to Japan. At the national and local level, as well as at animal welfare organizations, efforts are underway to protect the environment, animal habitats, and the ecosystem, and to promote coexistence with nature. Let’s take a look at some of the animals that adorn Japan's beautiful scenery.
Japan's National Bird, the Japanese Green Pheasant
A male Japanese green pheasant gives a loud cry while flapping his wings vigorously. (Photo courtesy of shaka_riders_photo)
The Japanese green pheasant is a bird roughly the size of a chicken, with a distinctive long tail. You can find the Japanese green pheasant all over the country except for Hokkaido and Tsushima Island. It is Japan's national bird as designated by the Ornithological Society of Japan. It is a creature that is loved by all, so much so that it has also been appointed the “city bird” by many local governments around the country.
An endemic species of Japan, the male Japanese green pheasant is characterized by a face with a red wattle and a brilliant green body. Its appearance with its wings spread is a sight to behold.
The Japanese green pheasant is a beautiful nonmigratory bird endemic to Japan and familiar to all through folk tales and nursery rhymes. It was selected as the national bird by the Ornithological Society of Japan in 1947 for its brave males and maternal females.
Green pheasants are deeply rooted in Japanese history and have been loved by the Japanese people since ancient times. Many descriptions of them can be found throughout Japanese classical literature and historical texts, and they even appear in Japan’s oldest poetry collections and history books, written in the 8th century. Green pheasants are often depicted in traditional paintings and crafts, and they make frequent appearances in old tales and literary works such as Momotaro (“Peach Boy”). They are also used in proverbs and idioms, such as “if the green pheasant doesn’t cry, it won’t be struck,” which means that you can prevent disaster by avoiding unnecessary talk.
Left: Pheasant from “An Album of Collected Beauty by Modern Masters” by MARUYAMA Okyo (1733-1795). A beautiful, delicately painted green pheasant strolls gracefully among the flowers in this striking Japanese painting. (© The Trustees of the British Museum.)
Right: Pheasants have long been associated with the Japanese people and appear in many Japanese folk tales, such as Momotaro (“Peach Boy”).
Top: Pheasant from “An Album of Collected Beauty by Modern Masters” by MARUYAMA Okyo (1733-1795). A beautiful, delicately painted green pheasant strolls gracefully among the flowers in this striking Japanese painting. (© The Trustees of the British Museum.)
Bottom: Pheasants have long been associated with the Japanese people and appear in many Japanese folk tales, such as Momotaro (“Peach Boy”).
Perhaps surprisingly, Japanese green pheasants live in such familiar and unassuming places as plains, riverbeds, and rice fields, and can even be found in the suburbs of Tokyo. Visiting Japan’s World Heritage sites and other famous places, you just might have a chance encounter with a green pheasant.
The Red-Crowned Crane, One of Japan's Largest Wild Birds
The red-crowned crane is one of Japan’s largest birds, with a wingspan of about 240 centimeters (about 8 feet).
Found in Hokkaido, the red-crowned crane is one of the largest wild birds in Japan. It has been designated by the country as a Special Natural Monument. It is one several birds collectively known in Japan as “tsuru” (“crane”) and may be called “tancho” (“red crown”) or “tancho-zuru” (“red-crowned crane”).
With a body length of about 100 to 140 centimeters (about 3 to 5 feet) and a wingspan of about 240 centimeters (about 8 feet), the red-crowned crane is truly impressive in size. Its body is covered in white feathers, with black from the eyes to the throat and neck, and a striking bright red crown atop its head. Due to their clean and graceful appearance, they have been considered an auspicious motif since ancient times, and have been used frequently in literature and art. UTAGAWA Hiroshige, a famous ukiyo-e artist of the 19th century, created dynamic depictions of red-crowned cranes flying into Edo in his “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo.”
Left: Minowa and Kanasugi, Mikawashima from the series “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” by UTAGAWA Hiroshige (1797-1858). A winter picture of red-crowned cranes that flew into Arakawa Ward every year during the Edo period. (Source: ColBase <https://colbase.nich.go.jp>)
Right: A red-crowned crane flapping its wings is an impressive sight.
Top: Minowa and Kanasugi, Mikawashima from the series “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” by UTAGAWA Hiroshige (1797-1858). A winter picture of red-crowned cranes that flew into Arakawa Ward every year during the Edo period. (Source: ColBase <https://colbase.nich.go.jp>)
Bottom: A red-crowned crane flapping its wings is an impressive sight.
In the Edo period (1603-1868), red-crowned cranes could be seen all over the country. At that time, there was a habitat for the cranes in Tokyo, where they were respected and protected by people specially charged with watching and feeding the birds, as well as by wild dog watchers and others.
For a time, red-crowned cranes were thought to have become extinct due to overhunting, but in 1924, they were rediscovered in the Kushiro region of Hokkaido. Since then, their population has recovered thanks to feeding activities by local people and national conservation projects. They can also be found in the Shiretoko area, a World Heritage Site.
Left: A red-crowned crane roost in the Kushiro region of Hokkaido (Tsurui Village). The sight of cranes floating in the mist of the river in the cold winter months is like a dream.
Right: A courtship display between two red-crowned cranes.
Top: A red-crowned crane roost in the Kushiro region of Hokkaido (Tsurui Village). The sight of cranes floating in the mist of the river in the cold winter months is like a dream.
Bottom: A courtship display between two red-crowned cranes.
Sika Deer, the Divine Messengers
Kasuga-taisha Shrine, a World Heritage Site with over a thousand years of history.
Japanese deer, also known as sika deer, are found widely throughout the Japanese archipelago. Among them are the population of sika deer living in Nara Park and its surrounding areas, which have been designated a Natural Monument of Japan called “Nara deer.” As part of Nara Park is also within the grounds of Kasuga-taisha Shrine, the deer here are carefully protected and raised as divine messengers.
One thing that makes Nara deer unique is that tourists can easily interact with them. “Deer senbei,” a cracker snack for the deer, are sold nearby, and you can feed the deer directly out of your hand. Some deer delight tourists by asking for snacks with a bow-like gesture.
Some other adorable displays you may witness include deer basking in the sun in the park and waiting for traffic lights to cross the road.
Left: Nara deer, a Natural Monument of Japan, are famous for being easy to interact with.
Right: Nara Park, which has a total area of 660 hectares (about 1630 acres), is home to many wild deer.
Top: Nara deer, a Natural Monument of Japan, are famous for being easy to interact with.
Bottom: Nara Park, which has a total area of 660 hectares (about 1630 acres), is home to many wild deer.
In addition to Kasuga-taisha Shrine in Nara Prefecture, other historical shrines like Kashima Shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture and Yahiko Shrine in Niigata Prefecture keep sika deer as divine messengers. Sika deer also live in the area around Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage Site on the island of Miyajima (also known as Itsukushima) in Hiroshima Prefecture and one of the famous scenic “Three Views of Japan.” These deer are called “Miyajima deer” and they are carefully protected by the local residents. Itsukushima Shrine is characterized by its large vermilion torii gate rising from the sea and its complex of shrine buildings built in the Shinden-zukuri style (a palatial architectural style from around the 10th to 11th century), making it a popular photo spot for tourists. The sight of sika deer standing quietly amidst the majestic scenery of this World Heritage Site is something that can only be found in Japan.
Standing on the water, the great torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine changes its appearance with the tides. At high tide, the gate appears to be floating, while at low tide, you can walk right up to it.
Left: Miyajima deer are used to humans, so you can often see tourists enjoying interacting with them. Watching the deer’s adorable expressions is a soothing experience. (Photo courtesy of miyajima_shashin)
Right: Low Tide at Miyajima, Aki from the series “One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces” by UTAGAWA Hiroshige II (1826-1869). An image of Miyajima at dawn during the cherry blossom season, with the large torii gate in the foreground at low tide. Among the people approaching the gate we can see Miyajima deer depicted. (© The Trustees of the British Museum.)
Top: Miyajima deer are used to humans, so you can often see tourists enjoying interacting with them. Watching the deer’s adorable expressions is a soothing experience. (Photo courtesy of miyajima_shashin)
Bottom: Low Tide at Miyajima, Aki from the series “One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces” by UTAGAWA Hiroshige II (1826-1869). An image of Miyajima at dawn during the cherry blossom season, with the large torii gate in the foreground at low tide. Among the people approaching the gate we can see Miyajima deer depicted. (© The Trustees of the British Museum.)
In addition to the animals introduced here, you can encounter a variety of other animals at any of the many famous locations where nature abounds throughout Japan. The next time you’re sightseeing, why not try searching for animals that are unique to Japan?