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Japan Forward
30-05-2025
- General
- Japan Forward
Reintroducing Wolves: A New Hope for Japanese Ecosystems
During a recent visit to the Hokkaido University Botanical Garden in Sapporo, I found myself standing before two haunting figures: the taxidermied remains of the now-extinct Ezo and Honshu wolves. Preserved behind glass, their forms felt frozen in time, ghosts of a lost species that once ruled the forests of Japan. Their absence, however, is anything but silent. In recent decades, deer, wild boar, and even bears have surged in numbers across Japan. They have disrupted ecosystems and damaged crops, edging ever closer to human settlements. It's within this context that the Japan Wolf Association (JWA) proposes an audacious solution: Bring back the wolves. A taxidermied Japanese wolf (courtesy of the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences / Faculty of Agriculture). The JWA was founded in 1993 by Associate Professor Naoki Maruyama, who was then teaching at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. According to Kunihiko Otsuki, a current director at the Association, the idea was born after Maruyama attended a conference in Poland. "He happened to see a wolf on the grasslands," Otsuki told me. At the time, Maruyama had been researching the effects of deer overpopulation on Japan's forests. That single encounter made him realize what was missing in his work: a natural predator. He returned to Japan convinced that wolves were the key to restoring balance to the nation's ecosystems, and rallied fellow researchers to form the JWA. "In the beginning, we were starting from zero," said Otsuki. The notion of reintroducing wolves to Japan was met with skepticism and fear. For many, wolves were still the villains of old folktales, dangerous beasts better left in the past. Yet over the years, the Association's persistence has paid off. Between 2006 and 2016, public support for their reintroduction rose from 17.4% to 43.3%. During the same period, opposition fell from 30.2% to just 11.0%. These numbers, Otsuki believes, reflect the cumulative impact of the Association's outreach: books, symposiums, a robust online presence, and educational campaigns. However, progress has since stalled. "Support has plateaued since 2016," Otsuki said. "The biggest barrier now is the government." Japan's Ministry of the Environment remains opposed to the idea of reintroducing wolves. Without political will, the JWA finds itself at a crossroads. "We believe we've entered a phase where political lobbying is necessary. Ultimately, we must move the national government." Tibetan wolves in the enclosure at Osaka's Tennoji Zoo (courtesy of Tennoji Zoo) What would the return of wolves mean for Japan's environment? Otsuki laid it out in ecological terms: deer populations, particularly Sika and Ezo deer, are causing widespread damage to forests and farmland. The government has responded with increased hunting allowances, but the effects have been minimal. Wolves, as apex predators, could offer a more sustainable solution by naturally regulating deer and boar numbers. "By restoring the food chain's natural order, wolves would allow vegetation to recover," said Otsuki. This, in turn, would support the return of birds and small mammals, halt soil erosion, and slowly revive entire ecosystems. "Ultimately, we see this contributing to the recovery of healthy forest systems and the mountain–river–sea continuum." So, where would reintroduction be viable? According to the Association, mountainous regions across Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu are all technically suitable. Wolves, with a natural fear of humans, could be imported from overseas, and would likely avoid populated areas, said Otsuki. Potential sites include Shiretoko, the Daisetsuzan range, the Japanese Alps, the Kii Peninsula, the Chugoku Mountains, and Mt Aso. Each of these areas has sufficient prey and land area to support multiple packs — roughly 100 to 300 square kilometers per territory. Even in national parks with tourist traffic or rural communities, human activity wouldn't necessarily pose a significant obstacle. "If Japan's intensive livestock model is maintained, wolf attacks on farm animals would likely be rare," Otsuki explained. Still, he acknowledged the need for systems to mitigate risk: "Subsidies for livestock protection and compensation schemes must be in place to reassure farmers." Moreover, geography isn't the only factor. "Local government consent and political decisions will greatly influence which sites are selected," he said. "That's why we can't name a concrete location ourselves at this stage." Public fear remains a formidable challenge. "The biggest misconception is fear — what we call 'Little Red Riding Hood syndrome,'" said Otsuki. People also conflate wolf reintroduction with the introduction of invasive species, or worry that wolves will disrupt ecosystems rather than restore them. To change minds, the JWA has used every tool at its disposal, including books, lectures, exhibitions, art, and social media. One notable publication, The Maligned Predator: Rethinking Wolves in Japanese History ( Ookami Enzai no Nihonshi in Japanese, Impress Books), directly rebuts the idea that wolves were historically dangerous to humans. A taxidermied specimen of the Japanese wolf (courtesy of the National Museum of Nature and Science). The Association also shares accident statistics, research from Europe and North America, and even produces children's stories with wolves as protagonists. "We share voices from communities already coexisting with wolves," said Otsuki. Could Japan follow in the footsteps of Yellowstone National Park or Europe? Otsuki thinks so. The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone in the 1990s is often cited as a success story. Wolves restored balance to the ecosystem, reducing elk overgrazing and allowing plant and animal life to flourish. The European example is different but equally valuable. Protected under the 1979 Bern Convention, wolves in Europe have expanded naturally from neighboring countries into old habitats. "It's not exactly reintroduction, but more like a comeback," said Otsuki. He highlighted a framework Japan could emulate: protect wolves legally, create compensation systems for damages, and permit controlled hunting once populations stabilize. "Public education, like websites explaining that wolves aren't dangerous, is also key." Finally, I asked Otsuki what reintroduction would mean for Japan, not just ecologically, but culturally and spiritually. "It would be a big step for biodiversity," he said. Japan is classified as a biodiversity hotspot (rich, highly threatened ecosystems) by Conservation International. "Wolves could help reverse the decline of vegetation, birds, insects, soil life — even reduce sediment buildup in rivers and dams." Culturally, wolves once held sacred meaning in Japan. Shrines, such as Mitsumine Shrine in Saitama Prefecture, still honor them, and legends abound about wolves that protected and guided humans. "These stories show that wolves were once part of a vibrant spiritual worldview," Otsuki explained. Their return could reignite that relationship. In a time when balance feels increasingly out of reach, the howl of a returning wolf might signal something far greater than its own survival. It could mark the first step toward restoring Japan's ecological soul. And perhaps most profoundly, reintroducing wolves would force a reckoning with the natural world. "Seeing a wolf hunt a deer might strike some as cruel," said Otsuki, "but it reminds us of nature's laws. It helps us reflect on what life means, and what it means to live as a human in harmony with nature." Author: Daniel Manning
Japan Times
24-03-2025
- Japan Times
World's first bonsai museum reopens after climate-focused renovations
After a five-month closure for a rigorous garden renovation, the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum formally reopened on March 21, unveiling a series of updates that aim to enhance both the exhibition experience and the health of the trees themselves. Established in 2010, the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is the world's first public museum dedicated to bonsai art. Nestled within Omiya Bonsai Village, which dates back to 1925, when bonsai artisans from Tokyo sought better growing conditions following the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, the museum has become a global reference point for bonsai enthusiasts, scholars and practitioners alike. Home to a remarkable collection of over 120 aged bonsai specimens, the museum offers more than a simple exhibition — it is a window into a meticulous, living tradition. Among its most prized trees is the Ezo Spruce named Todoroki, the oldest in the collection, estimated to be 1,000 years old. The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is home to this 1,000-year-old Ezo spruce. | ERIK AUGUSTIN PALM While the art of bonsai is often associated with patience and preservation, it is, by necessity, a practice of constant adaptation — to shifting seasons, new techniques, and now, the environmental pressures of climate change. As part of the renovations, several structural and environmental upgrades have been made to better protect the bonsai from the increasing intensity of Japan's summers. Harry Turton, the museum's coordinator for international relations, points out key changes such as an expanded multilevel flowing pond and devices spraying cold mist — designed not only for the health of the trees but also for the comfort of visitors to the museum's walled garden. The enclosed space, bordered by tall, swaying bamboo trees, tends to capture and amplify the summer heat, making these additions essential as the climate continues to shift. The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum exhibits more than 120 aged bonsai specimens. | ERIK AUGUSTIN PALM To celebrate the reopening, the museum has curated a series of special exhibitions that highlight both the seasonal beauty of bonsai and its broader artistic and historical significance. "Shiki: March, Flowers Herald Spring" (through March 25) welcomes the arrival of spring with bonsai compositions that emphasize renewal and seasonal transition, while "The 34th Sakka Exhibition" (April 4-23), presented by the Japan Bonsai Artists Association, features works by contemporary bonsai masters. Running alongside these is "Bonsai Chronicle: History and Culture of Bonsai" (through July 2), a scholarly exhibition exploring bonsai's evolution from an aristocratic pastime to a globally respected art form. Adding a fresh perspective, "The Second Annual Exhibition of Selected Artworks by Second Grade Art Students of Toro Junior High School" (through April 2) introduces a younger generation's interpretation of bonsai and nature-inspired art. With its renovation complete, the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation, ensuring that the next generation inherits not only the knowledge but also the responsibility of maintaining this extraordinary cultural heritage.
