Blakiston’s Fish Owl

Shiretoko Peninsula, Japan

The world’s largest owl lives in Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido: the Blakiston’s fish owl. Only about one hundred breeding pairs remain in Japan, making it extremely rare and at risk of extinction.

As evening falls, a deep, resonant call echoes like a large wind instrument through the forest. The owl has come to the river to hunt. Its sharp eyes sweep the surroundings before it plunges into the water to catch its prey.

For the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido, the Blakiston’s fish owl is a sacred guardian of the forest. They have long believed its watchful presence protects their villages from harm. A single glance at its dignified form is enough to understand why.

This sense of reverence is not unique to the Ainu. Across the world, indigenous cultures honor the creatures of their land as divine beings. Respecting such rare animals provides spiritual strength and a sense of connection. Protecting these creatures means protecting their habitats. This, in turn, helps keep the environment we live in healthy. By honoring the Blakiston’s fish owl as a god of the forest and protecting its home, all life, including humans, can share the same world.

But today, as civilization advances, forests are disappearing. If this continues, the Blakiston’s Fish Owl will vanish. I believe there is something we can do to prevent that. We need to come together, share our wisdom, and find a way to live in harmony.