Animal Names in Japanese

Animal Names in Japanese

Welcome back to the JOI blog on Japanese words and vocabulary. In this blog, we will teach you how to say animal names in Japanese.

First of all, it is important to know that while some Japanese animal names are written in hiragana, most of them are written in Kanji.

Animals have significant symbolism for the Japanese so before we jump right into animal names in Japanese, let’s look at what various animals symbolize in Japan.

Japanese Symbols And Meanings For Animals
In the Japanese Zodiac, there are 12 animals, which were all imported from ancient China. These 12 Japanese animal symbols – rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar – still hold essential meanings to this day.

Different animals have different symbolizes in many countries, not just in Japan. Below you will find the symbolism of some of the animals in Japan.

• Dragons: Though mythical, dragons are among the most powerful symbols in Japan and were worshipped as the gods of water.
• Butterflies: The Japanese believe that when people pass, they take the form of a butterfly to journey to the other side. Butterflies also symbolize womanhood as they believe that girls find their wings to fly and emerge into a woman.
• Carps: Carps have the strength to swim upstream. So, their perseverance symbolizes the Children’s Day Festival on 5 May of each year in Japan to inspire children to work hard to be successful
• Cats: Cats represent joy, fortune, and wealth, and they are believed to bring luck.
• Lions: Some Japanese places of worship have statues of two lions – known as ‘lion dogs’- guarding the entrances to keep evil away. Lions have also long been the symbol of power and strength.
• Raccoon Dogs: Known as Tanuki in Japanese, raccoon dogs are popular in Japanese modern and traditional art. They are known to be playful and cheerful animals who bring good fortune.
• Turtles: Turtles, especially sea turtles, can live up to 150 years or more. The Japanese have used their long lifespan to symbolize longevity, luckiness, and wisdom.
• Frogs: In Japanese, ‘frog’ means ‘return’. So, travelers often carry frogs to be able to return home safely. They are considered to be lucky creatures who bring good fortune.
• Cranes: Among the Japanese folklore animals, cranes are believed to live up to 1,000 years. So, they represent longevity and good luck. As cranes are monogamous, they are widely used in Japanese weddings and New Year celebrations.