MADO and Japanese crane

Japanese crane – tanterdzooty is one of the biggest cranes and one of the most beautiful. It can be about half of meter height and its appearance is very spectacular – its snowy feathers turn into black at its tail and at the end of the wings. Its black head is decorated with fire “cap”.

Japanese crane used to be sacred bird in Japan till 1867 and was under special protection. Japanese called cranes “people in feathers”.

Japanese crane is also famous for its love to dance. Many kinds of cranes were also seen dancing, but only the kind of Japanese crane does it so frequently and intoxicated. For this bird a dance does not connected with the conjugal period, but it seems that it shows his joy or perhaps, it is just the way the birds communicate in the flock.

Sensitive to beauty Japanese could not ignore so unusual bird, so the crane became one of the most important symbols in the culture. With Long-neck dancing bird figures are decorated interiors of homes and household items. Because of their beauty crane’s images are often used for decoration of memorial marks and emblems. The crane is also one of the element of compositions on the post stamps, which usually printed for some solemnity.

For Japanese the crane symbolizes longevity and wellbeing as well as hope.

There is a very popular legend in Japan about a wounded crane, who turned into a beautiful girl and married the young man who had saved her. The girl was wonderful weaver. She locked herself alone in the room and in the crane image she weave amazing fabric from her feather. And when her husband suddenly saw her she turned into the crane and flew away….
Now this wonderful birds are threatened and are in the international “Red Book”.

MADO company in the official guardian of the Japanese crane in Prague Zoo and invites everyone to come and watch this amazing bird, to watch its dance. We do hope that it will bring you joy and wellbeing as Japanese believe.