The annual Japan Dreamscapes Hokkaido Photo Workshop means another opportunity to spot and photograph Red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis), one of the most venerated winged inhabitants of Japan’s north island.  Once a pair of Red-crowned cranes has selected their respective mates, they bond throughout their lifetime.  Their fealty was known to the samurais, and many crests were emblazoned with a Red-crowned crane to denote a similar lifetime devotion to their daimyo or lord.  In fact, the Mori clan, one of the samurai clans that served under Oda Nobunaga during Japan’s Sengoku period uses a mon, or emblem, which is entirely made up of an image of a crane.  When one of our workshop leaders first considered the pose on the emblem, he harkened back to his experience spotting and photographing them in Hokkaido. He’d say the resemblance between the emblem and the Red-crowned cranes he's seen is uncannily similar.

The Red-crowned crane symbolism extends to The First Nations People of Japan, the Ainu, who honor the Red-crowned Crane as one of their kamuy, or spiritual creatures.  During the JDS Hokkaido Photo Tour, our clients visit the Akanko Ainu Kotan, where the Ainu perform a dance in tribute to the Red-crowned Crane called the ‘sarorun kamuy rimse.’  The dance simulates the chirping, singing, and mating dance between two Red-crowned Cranes who are betrothing themselves to each other. 

The Red-Crowned Crane, タンチョウ (Tancho) in Japanese, stands between 150 to 158 cm (4ft to 5 ft) tall, weighing 8 to 11 kg (17 to 25 pounds) with an amazingly large wingspan measuring 200 to 260 cm (6.5 ft to 8.5 ft) and can live for more than 60 years. The Red-Crowned Cranes ritual courtship dance is a masterpiece of devoted choreography; they bow to one another, then raise their heads towards the sky and call in unison, and as they call, they begin to dance.  One pair of Red-crowned Cranes or the entire flock will leap into the air, at the same time commencing the mating ritual ballet/dance.  It’s a visual and aural symphony so breathtaking that our team leaders and some of our clients have been brought to tears while photographing them.