Crane (tancho tsuru - 丹頂鶴)

In Japan, cranes represent longevity and good fortune. They are closely associated with Japanese New Year and wedding ceremonies (crane motifs are often found on wedding kimonos).

Cranes are found on a lot of works of art and are one of the most traditional origami figure. Japanese fold a thousand crane origamis when they want to make a special wish. Giant colourful necklaces of origami cranes are a common sight outside Japanese shrines and temples or at the Hiroshima atomic bomb memorial.

Japan has also a special type of black an white crane living especially in Hokaido (north of Japan), the red-crowned crane.