Animals

1. 犬

   Inu

   Dog

   Usage

   Stray dogs are rare in Japan; pet dogs are always on a leash

2. 猫

   Neko

   Cat

   Usage

   Community cats are common in port towns and on small islands. "Neko kafe" (cat cafés) are a city staple

3. 鳥

   Tori

   Bird

   Usage

   The general word. Chicken as food is "toriniku", using the same "tori"

4. 魚

   Sakana

   Fish

   Usage

   Same word for the animal and the food. Used at sushi shops and fish markets

5. 馬

   Uma

   Horse

   Usage

   Seen in Hokkaido and on shrine "ema" plaques. Horse racing is "keiba"

6. 牛

   Ushi

   Cow

   Usage

   Beef is "gyūniku"; Japanese beef is "wagyū"

7. 豚

   Buta

   Pig

   Usage

   Pork is "butaniku". Show this card to decline pork for religious reasons

8. 鶏

   Niwatori

   Chicken

   Usage

   The live bird is "niwatori"; as food it is read "tori" / "toriniku"

9. アヒル

   Ahiru

   Duck

   Usage

   The domestic duck. The wild duck is "kamo", and dishes use "kamo" too

10. ヤギ

    Yagi

    Goat

    Usage

    Seen on farms in Okinawa and the outer islands, where goat is a local dish

11. 羊

    Hitsuji

    Sheep

    Usage

    Common on Hokkaido farms. The lamb barbecue dish is called "Jingisukan"

12. 鹿

    Shika

    Deer

    Usage

    Famous in Nara Park and Miyajima. They bow, but will bite or butt if you carry food — feed only the official "shika senbei"

13. 猿

    Saru

    Monkey

    Usage

    Found around Nikko, Hakone and Jigokudani. Never make eye contact or show food; if they grab your bag, do not chase them

14. 熊

    Kuma

    Bear

    Usage

    Black bears on Honshu, brown bears in Hokkaido. Trail signs read "kuma shutsubotsu chūi" — carry a bell

15. イノシシ

    Inoshishi

    Wild boar

    Usage

    Comes into towns around Mt. Rokko and rural west Japan. Back away quietly rather than running. The hotpot dish is "botan nabe"

16. タヌキ

    Tanuki

    Raccoon dog

    Usage

    A native Japanese animal, not a raccoon. The Shigaraki pottery tanuki is a lucky charm outside shops

17. キツネ

    Kitsune

    Fox

    Usage

    The messenger of Inari shrines — stone foxes at Fushimi Inari. Never touch wild foxes in Hokkaido

18. ネズミ

    Nezumi

    Mouse / rat

    Usage

    Japanese uses one word for mouse and rat. Useful to report one at your lodging

19. ウサギ

    Usagi

    Rabbit

    Usage

    Ōkunoshima in Hiroshima is famous as "Rabbit Island"

20. コウモリ

    Kōmori

    Bat

    Usage

    Seen flying over towns at dusk. Do not touch them

21. 蛇

    Hebi

    Snake

    Usage

    Venomous mamushi on Honshu, habu in Okinawa and Amami. If bitten, ask for a "kyūkyūsha" (ambulance) at once

22. トカゲ

    Tokage

    Lizard

    Usage

    The harmless outdoor lizard; the one on indoor walls is a different word, "yamori"

23. ヤモリ

    Yamori

    Gecko

    Usage

    Sticks to windows on summer nights. Harmless, and considered lucky — the kanji means "house guardian"

24. カエル

    Kaeru

    Frog

    Usage

    They chorus in the rice paddies in early summer. A homophone of "kaeru" (to return home), so they appear on travel charms

25. 亀

    Kame

    Turtle

    Usage

    Common in temple ponds. With the crane, a symbol of long life

26. カラス

    Karasu

    Crow

    Usage

    Large, clever and everywhere in cities. They raid rubbish and convenience-store bags — don't dangle food as you walk

27. ハト

    Hato

    Pigeon

    Usage

    Common in parks and station squares. Feeding them is banned in many municipalities

28. カモメ

    Kamome

    Seagull

    Usage

    Seen at ports and from ferries; they crowd in if you hold food on deck

29. 蚊

    Ka

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Everywhere in summer. Repellent is "mushiyoke" and anti-itch cream is "kayumidome" — show these at a pharmacy

30. ゴキブリ

    Gokiburi

    Cockroach

    Usage

    Show this at the front desk if you find one. In casual speech people abbreviate it to "G"

31. アリ

    Ari

    Ant

    Usage

    They arrive if you leave food out in your room

32. ハチ

    Hachi

    Bee / wasp

    Usage

    The autumn "suzumebachi" (hornet) is large and aggressive. Seek care at once if you are allergic

33. クモ

    Kumo

    Spider

    Usage

    Homophone with "kumo" (cloud). House spiders in Japan are essentially harmless

34. ムカデ

    Mukade

    Centipede

    Usage

    Found in mountain areas and old houses. The bite hurts badly — never handle one bare-handed

35. セミ

    Semi

    Cicada

    Usage

    The sound of midsummer Japan. Harmless, but extremely loud

36. チョウ

    Chō

    Butterfly

    Usage

    In everyday speech people usually say "chōcho"

37. ハエ

    Hae

    Fly

    Usage

    Point at this if flies are a problem at a stall or outdoor eatery

38. クラゲ

    Kurage

    Jellyfish

    Usage

    Numbers rise at beaches after mid-August (Obon). The word appears on beach warning boards

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