Whaling in Japan has a history for 1,200 years. Because in the past kujira were plentiful even in Japan's coastal waters and were sufficiently caught by an ancient and primitive harpoon method, whaling songs are recorded among Japan's oldest myths in "Kojiki"(the record of ancient matters). In the Edo Period (1603-1867), whaling thrived with a number of whaling bases.
After the Second World War when it was difficult to obtain food, kujira, as an important source of animal protein, rescued the Japanese people from hunger. In addition, the utility value of kujira is so high that it is said, "there is no part to be wasted." For example, its oil becomes the raw material for industrial lubricants, cleansing agents and cosmetics; its teeth, bones and whale bone are used in objects of craftwork; and its sinews are used as the gut for stringing tennis rackets.
Because the word tai rhymes with "medetai"[meaning "happy" or "auspicious"], the fish are served on the occasion of celebrations like weddings and festivals, and are regarded as good luck fish. In addition, from the beauty of their shape and color, they are termed the king of ocean fish. To eat tai in their natural shape is said to bless one with good fortune, so, when preparing them to serve, "the whole fish"(okashira-tsuki) is preferred. A method of catching the fish in Japan's coastal waters was developed, and in the Edo Period(1603-1867) a technique was devised to transport them while still alive.
Koi are believed to be fish capable of climbing upstream against rapid currents and overcoming all manner of obstacles, hence they are taken as a symbol of the strength, courage and patience to accomplish major goals.
From this comes the custom in Japan for boys to pray that they will take after koi and live their lives strongly and of hanging out carp streamers, shaped like koi, on May 5, Children's Day.
The Japanese enjoy these fish and usually keep them in a glass gold fish bowl. A pure breed was imported from China at the beginning of the 16th century, different kinds increased in the Edo Period(1603-1867), and keeping kingyo for enjoyment became widespread. Until the 1960s, kingyo sellers flourished in Tokyo, carrying around kingyo-filled buckets suspended from a shoulder carrying pole. A game called "Kingyo sukui"(Dip up gold fishes) is played at street stalls at summer festivals and fairs and even today is a lyrical feature of summer.
With their bent backs and long whiskers, ebi resemble long-lived old people and, like cranes and turtles, are considered symbols of long life. In the medieval times, they were called the "old men of the sea," and the Chinese characters for ebi also have the same meaning. Other characters in Japanese that express this mean "old people of the sea".The size, shape and color of ebi from Ise are particularly well liked and are served on celebratory occasions such as weddings. They resemble lobsters but without the large claws.
Many classical Japanese folktales and paintings have appeared, featuring the beauty of tsuru in their long necks and legs. They are winter migratory birds that fly to Japan in October from Siberia and Mongolia, returning the following year in March. In Japan they are valued especially as animals symbolizing long life and are often used for festive designs and decorations. One Thousand Crane of folded paper are sent to the sick to pray for recovery from illness and for long life. The movement to protect the habitat of tsuru is active, and tsuru have become a symbol for environmental protection.
In Japan there is the proverb, "Cranes live 1,000 years, turtles 10,000." Together with cranes, kame are thought to be animals symbolizing long life. In ancient China and Korea, cranes and kame were considered to be symbols of long life and prosperity, and that was conveyed to Japan; that belief has taken deep root in lives of the Japanese people.
In traditional Japanese performing arts like Japanese harp and Noh, there is a work called "Tsurukame" which has been performed to take the place of congratulatory messages.
These are small birds, peculiar to Japan, that have been beloved by the Japanese people since ancient times as birds that announce springtime with their uniquely beautiful cry. They come down to village and start to cry just about the time when plum trees bloom, so the combination of plum trees and Japanese bush warbler has become subject matter of paintings, poetry and songs. In the Edo Period(1603-1867), singing competitions for pet Japanese bush warbler were often held. And the term "Miss Uguisu" is applied to female telephone operators and announcers with beautiful voices.
Frogs have been closely associated with Japanese life for a long time. Agricultural products in Japan were mainly rice-paddy plants, and there were many creatures in paddy fields. Frogs inhabit the paddy fields, ponds, and rivers. As written in the "Kokinwakashu(905 a.d.), "a frog's croaking inspire one to compose a poem," the Japanese people sensed the season even in a frog's croaking and composed poems. Tadpoles, baby frogs, are popular with children.
Among wild animals, dogs were the first that humans kept and domesticated. Thus, domesticated dogs have existed in Japan since the Neolithic era. However, in Japan with its farming culture, as distinct from the cattle-raising peoples of Europe and Eurasia, the role of house dog appears to have been that of watching dog rather than of hunting dog. In the Edo Period(1603-1867), dogs also emerged as pets. Typical Japanese dogs include Akita, Tosa and Shiba breeds.