Blakiston’s Fish Owl
The Blakiston’s fish owl is the world’s largest owl. Adults can measure up to 70 centimeters in length, with a wingspan of 2 meters. It inhabits forested areas by riversides, lakes, and marshes. When it spots the outline of a fish, it swoops silently from the trees, extending its imposing talons to grab the unsuspecting prey. Occasionally, especially in winter, the Blakiston’s fish owl will target mammals and other birds. The Ainu, Japan’s indigenous people, revere the owl as Kotankor Kamuy, meaning “the deity that protects the village.”
Goldcrest
The goldcrest is at home in coniferous forests, and is quite common in the Akan area. It uses its small body and thin beak to feed on insects and spiders found in the gaps between needled conifer leaves, where many other birds cannot reach. The goldcrest is named for the narrow stripe of colorful feathers on its crown. During courtship displays and territorial disputes, the male raises his golden crest into the shape of a fan.
Crested Kingfisher
The crested kingfisher is an excellent hunter. It perches on branches that extend over lake edges or riverbanks and carefully scans the water for small fish. It dives to catch its prey, then subdues it by beating it against a rock or branch. The kingfisher then swallows the fish whole.
Spotted Nutcracker
The spotted nutcracker is a member of the crow family (Corvidae) and has dappled, chocolate-brown plumage. It inhabits the subalpine zone (well above sea level) and eats the seeds of various plants, including the Japanese stone pine. During autumn, it stores food for winter use. Its cry is similar to that of the Eurasian jay.
Forked Fimbry
Forked fimbry (Fimbristylis dichotoma) is a widely distributed sedge grass. It grows in a variety of areas, from the northern temperate zone to the tropics. In Japan, it generally thrives in wet areas with good sunlight, such as paddy fields or roadsides. From summer to autumn, it sprouts distinctive small, brown-colored ears. Forked fimbry can grow in Akan’s subarctic zones because of the warm, moist environment created by fumaroles, openings around volcanoes that vent sulfuric gases.
Japanese Milkwort
Japanese milkwort (Polygala japonica) is a perennial plant of the genus Polygala. Polygala means “a lot of milk” in ancient Greek. In parts of Asia, the roots of this plant are used in herbal medicines and are said to help relieve coughs and inflammation. In the “language of flowers” (floriography), polygala signifies both “love you can believe in” and “hermit.”
Ground Beetle
The ground beetle (Carabus kolbei) is a species native to Hokkaido. Its vibrant coloring has prompted some to describe it as a “walking jewel.” This ground beetle’s hind legs and wings are vestigial, and it cannot fly. Its diet includes moth and butterfly larvae and earthworms. If food is scarce, the species will feed upon its own kind.
Tortrix Moth
The tortrix moth (Olethreutes bipunctanus yama) is confined to mountainous areas. In Japan, it is native only to Hokkaido and lives around Mt. Meakan in Akan-Mashu National Park. It is a relatively small species, with a wingspan measuring 1 centimeter. Unlike most other moths, it is only active during the daytime. The species is thought to be a survivor from the last ice age.
Band-legged Ground Cricket
The band-legged ground cricket (Dianemobius nigrofasciatus) occurs throughout Hokkaido. It thrives around bokke (boiling mud pools) and fumaroles near the summit of Mt. Hakuto in Akan-Mashu National Park. As its name indicates, this species has distinctive bands on its hind legs. It typically survives winter underground in the egg phase, but the constant geothermal warmth of the boiling mud pools allows the species to breed year-round in certain areas.
Daisuke the bear
Daisuke, the brown bear seen here, was found as a young cub in the forests of Kitami Aioi in the spring of 1960. He lived his life in the park in front of the Akan Tourist Information Center and became a symbol of the center. He lived until seven years old, and reached a weight of 500 kilograms.
Broad-winged Damselfly
The broad-winged damselfly (Mnais costalis) is endemic to Japan. The larva, or nymph, is colorless and transparent when it emerges from the egg. During the nymphal stage, the young damselfly molts around a dozen times. Once mature, the male establishes a territory along the bank of a stream or river.
October Caddisfly
The October caddisfly (Dicosmoecus jozankeanus) is native to the rivers of Hokkaido. The species is characterized by the fine, densely packed hairs on the wings of the adult. The aquatic larva builds itself a protective tubular case using vegetation debris, but as it grows it adds grains of sand to the structure. The tube can reach up to 2.7 centimeters in length.
Humpless Casemaker Caddisfly
The humpless casemaker caddisfly (Brachycentrus kuwayamai) is a species of caddisfly found in Hokkaido. The aquatic larva uses plant debris to construct itself a distinctively square-edged protective casing. The airborne adult is primarily active at night and rests beneath vegetation during daytime.
Japanese Mayfly
The Japanese mayfly (Ephemera japonica) is seen widely throughout Japan. It lives for several years underwater as an aquatic nymph, then emerges as an adult to live a fleeting life of just one day. Adult mayflies mate, lay eggs, and die all in a single day. Mayflies transition from nymphs to adult mayflies through a stage called “hatching.” The Japanese mayfly tends to hatch in a grassy or stony area near the source of a stream.
