The Pheasant — National Bird of Japan
You have probably thought that the national bird of Japan is the tsuru or the crested ibis , however the answer is the pheasant which is called Kijiキジin Japanese. This graceful bird is endemic to Japan (with the exception of Hokkaido) and features in many Japanese folk poems and stories. In Japan, many people claim that green pheasants are startled by earthquakes and “scream” which makes them “predict” tremors.
In 1947 the Japan Ornithology Society named it a National Bird, an animal that represents Japan, fulfilling the three necessary requirements for it, which are:
- Being a bird included in myths and ancient tales.
- That as an animal be brave and maternal.
- be endemic to Japan.
Other points that were considered were that this bird can be seen all year round and can even be found in residential areas (in small cities).
There are many tales and folk stories in which the pheasant appears, one of the most important is Momotaro桃太郎- One of the oldest stories in Japan where a pheasant appears that accompanies Momotaro when he decides to go exterminate demons.
