Japanese Cranes

ainu_japanese_cranes_hokkaido.jpg

From earthtrendshop.com:"
Our Visit to an Ainu Village
Jim and Akiko visited the Ainu crafts village at Lake Akan, Hokkaido, Japan in February, 2004. Lake Akan is a traditional location for the Ainu, the native peoples of Hokkaido. Here there is an Ainu community side by side with the Japanese onsen (hot spring bath) resort hotels....

After leaving Lake Akan and the Ainu Craft village we visited a Japanese Crane preserve and watched a large flock of these beautiful birds for several hours.

Japanese cranes in flight (scroll down to find the photo)

The Ainu have had a close relationship with the wildlife of their environment. The bear, crane, little deer, squirrels, owls, and many other animals have been integral to their survival and are deeply part of the Ainu culture. Images of these many animals show up in their carvings, dance, and stories..." (more)