11th April – 卯月
Japanese national bird, it was determined in 1947. Pheasant stays in Japan whole year and it is Japanese endemic species.
雉 (Kiji) as a national bird of Japan, is believed to exist most places in Japan exept in Hokkaido and Tsushima, however many people never have seen them. Kiji is very vigilant animal and generally appear the places where has a spot to hide. Because if it rare in many areas to see Kiji, it is considered to be lucky if people encounter Kiji. Especially Albino Kiji has been treated with care from very long time ago, if you could see them in wild, it is very very lucky!
People normally imagine Kiji as a colorful bird, however that is just a male ones, female Kiji is similar to the general brown mountain birds.
The male Kiji has red parts around eyes, green chest with different patterned body so looks very gorgeous. Female one has whole brown colored body and little bit of pale red color. Both has long tale and lives rather in close to the village area than deep in the mountains. They are very good at running but not at flying, maybe that is why they have kept staying in Japan whole year.
As a courtship behavior of male Kiji, they make unique sounds like ケーンケーン (Ke-n Ke-n) and smash their wings to the ground very loud, called ほろうち(Horouchi), to appeal the female Kiji. There is one proverb saying ‘けんもほろろ’ (Ken mo Hororo), meaning of rejecting consulting from people in unfriendly way. This word comes from Kiji’s behavior, When female Kiji deny the male unfriendly.
The another reason that Kiji was chosen for national bird is that Kiji is devoted to family. There is a proverb called ‘焼野の雉夜の鶴’ (Yakeno no kigisu, Yoru no tsuru), this related to the story of Kiji in the burnt bush – One legendary story. One field got fire and burnt whole field. One person went to check the field and found one female Kiji crouching with its skin burnt. When he got close to the Kiji, he flew away and there were eggs. That Kiji protected the kids even in the risk of own life. Kiji is also known to protect its kids from cold in the night with its wings. Therefore, the meaning of the proverb is the Family love, deep love from parents.
Even Kiji is believed as a dignified lucky birds, there are some negative belief related to Kiji. Many areas in Japan have traditional story that when Kiji cry, earthquake will occur. Moreover, this have proven as true! Kiji cry differently to normal / cry a lot when they sense something different. In fact, even the Tohoku huge earthquake occurred, Kiji in the close area were crying continuously. Maybe Kiji is telling us to leave the place? In this way, they are the savior for humans!
Little Japan Dictionary 