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.

It is also mentioned in the Manyōshū (万葉集) which is a collection of ” waka ” (和歌) or the oldest extant and most historically relevant Japanese poetry, which was compiled in the Nara Period, and early Heian Period. The word “Pheasant” is also a seasonal word (kigo 季語) for spring that is widely used by haiku poets when including them in their poems. There are also many paintings where they can be found represented in landscapes and very traditional elements of Japan.

Did you know this bird? What is the national bird of your country? Tell us in the comments!