Animals
National Animal
The Green Pheasant“Respect others should apply to all animals.”
Anthony Douglas Williams
Animals commonly seen in the wild
Marine fauna:
Sea turtles, carps, hermit crabs, sea otters, sea lions, koi, tunas.
Birds:
Woodpeckers, pheasants, swans, geese, cranes, quails.
Land mammals:
Raccoon dogs, deer, macaques, boars, shrews, bats, bears, squirrels.
Snakes and insects:
Vipers, geckos, rat snakes, reed snakes, lizards, alligators, crickets, cicadas, fireflies, butterflies.
Common sights you will not like
In the city and on the road
Stray cats can sometimes be found on the streets. Some restaurants practice Ikizukuri, meaning “prepared alive,” wherein sushi is served with live fish/ octopus/ shrimp and is served to the customer.
In theCountryside
Few stray cats and dogs can be seen around residential rural areas.
Hunting or poaching:
Common animals that are hunted in Japan are whales, wild boars, deer, wild hares, racoon dogs, pheasants, doves and other migratory birds.
Animal fights:
Have been banned in only 5 out of the 47 prefectures. Dog fighting is the most common animal fighting taking place.
Main organization for animal rescue and sheltering:
Sanctuaries to visit or volunteer:
N/A
We have not included the treatment of animals in the meat/fur/leather industries, zoos or circuses, animal testing as it unfortunately still happens in most countries.
