1.
pheasant; specifically the green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor), Japan's national bird
A medium-sized ground bird native to Japan. The male has brilliant iridescent green and copper plumage. Designated as Japan's national bird in 1947.
The 雉 (green pheasant) is endemic to Japan and was designated as the national bird in 1947. It is deeply embedded in Japanese culture and appears in many folk tales, proverbs, and idioms.
Cultural note
The pheasant is one of 桃太郎's three animal companions, along with the dog and monkey. This folk tale is known to virtually all Japanese people, making 雉 a culturally significant word.
Proverbs and idioms
- 雉も鳴かずば撃たれまい: If the pheasant hadn't cried out, it wouldn't have been shot — keeping silent avoids trouble
- 頭隠して尻隠さず: hiding one's head but not one's tail — based on the pheasant's behavior of hiding its head in grass