Why do Japanese hate crows so much?

[Kulern]

Exception is "Clock Tower 1995" game. Crows are heroes in that game. And also is cool detail that. A crow will remember your face for 5 years. If you are mean to it, it will attack you. If you are nice to the crow, it likely will give you gifts.

But in Japan. It seems culturally they dont like crows much. In Zelda A Link to the Past you attack crows for example (Then again you also attack chickens which... games were messed up sometimes haha : P). Then again, so was being a kid too.

But just curious what you think

 

[Lothor]

I like crows.

Japanese people mainly don't like them because they scavenge in the rubbish and make a mess, they have on rare occasions attacked people, and they are large enough to be intimidating to some people.

The fact that they have as much right to be here as humans doesn't cross most people's minds.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Here in the US , some old people associated crows/ravens with death for some reason. When I was about 10 , an old man at hunting camp had me shoot a nest of adult & baby ravens, Then he chopped the tree down to make sure they were all dead. He honestly believed they would cause him to die? It must be a rare belief as I never met anyone else with that belief.

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

In Japanese culture, crows have two very different images. On one hand, ordinary crows are often viewed as nuisance birds in modern cities. On the other hand, the legendary Yatagarasu (the Three-Legged Crow) is one of the most sacred symbols in Japanese mythology.

According to the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki , Yatagarasu was sent by the sun goddess Amaterasu to guide Emperor Jimmu, the legendary first Emperor of Japan, from Kumano to Yamato. Because of this, Yatagarasu symbolizes:

Divine guidance
Wisdom and insight
Victory and success
The will of the gods

Even today, Yatagarasu remains an important symbol in Japan. It is closely associated with the Kumano Shrines and is also featured in the emblem of the Japan Football Association (JFA), representing guidance toward victory.

However, this sacred image should not be confused with people's perception of ordinary crows.

In modern Japan, many people dislike crows because they:

Tear open garbage bags and scatter trash.
Can become aggressive during the nesting season to protect their chicks.
Make loud calls, especially early in the morning.

These practical issues have given crows a negative reputation in everyday life.

Despite this, crows are highly intelligent birds. Scientists have shown that they can recognize human faces, use tools, solve complex problems, and even communicate information about dangerous people to other crows. They also play an important ecological role by eating insects, rodents, and animal carcasses.

In short, Japan has two distinct views of crows:

In mythology and religion: The Yatagarasu is a sacred messenger of the gods and a symbol of divine guidance.
In everyday urban life: Ordinary crows are often regarded as troublesome because of the problems they can cause.

These two perspectives coexist in Japanese culture, reflecting the difference between the symbolic role of the mythical Yatagarasu and the behavior of real crows in modern society.

 

[thomas]

I like them, but I'm also wary of them. They are uncannily smart. I've been attacked twice while cycling because they fiercely defend their nests, and once had my tuna-mayo onigiri snatched straight out of my hand while eating in a park. Sadly, last Thursday, I saw an injured crow die near our house. It was surrounded by a flock of fellow crows, who stood guard over their stricken companion and almost seemed to be saying their farewells.

 

[Kulern]

In Japanese culture, crows have two very different images. On one hand, ordinary crows are often viewed as nuisance birds in modern cities. On the other hand, the legendary Yatagarasu (the Three-Legged Crow) is one of the most sacred symbols in Japanese mythology.

According to the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, Yatagarasu was sent by the sun goddess Amaterasu to guide Emperor Jimmu, the legendary first Emperor of Japan, from Kumano to Yamato. Because of this, Yatagarasu symbolizes:

Divine guidance
Wisdom and insight
Victory and success
The will of the gods

Even today, Yatagarasu remains an important symbol in Japan. It is closely associated with the Kumano Shrines and is also featured in the emblem of the Japan Football Association (JFA), representing guidance toward victory.

However, this sacred image should not be confused with people's perception of ordinary crows.

In modern Japan, many people dislike crows because they:

Tear open garbage bags and scatter trash.
Can become aggressive during the nesting season to protect their chicks.
Make loud calls, especially early in the morning.

These practical issues have given crows a negative reputation in everyday life.

Despite this, crows are highly intelligent birds. Scientists have shown that they can recognize human faces, use tools, solve complex problems, and even communicate information about dangerous people to other crows. They also play an important ecological role by eating insects, rodents, and animal carcasses.

In short, Japan has two distinct views of crows:

In mythology and religion: The Yatagarasu is a sacred messenger of the gods and a symbol of divine guidance.
In everyday urban life: Ordinary crows are often regarded as troublesome because of the problems they can cause.

These two perspectives coexist in Japanese culture, reflecting the difference between the symbolic role of the mythical Yatagarasu and the behavior of real crows in modern society.

In Norway. All we have to worry about are these birds. (The Seagulls). However, i tolerate it since i have learnt to avoid it. But

Nothing good comes after 3 or 4 map map map during the nesting season



I guess maybe stumbling upon crow nest just hasn't happened much where i live

 

[Ukigumo]

…and there are Karasu tengu

 

[Ukigumo]

In Norway. All we have to worry about are these birds. (The Seagulls). However, i tolerate it since i have learnt to avoid it. But

Nothing good comes after 3 or 4 map map map during the nesting season



I guess maybe stumbling upon crow nest just hasn't happened much where i live We

There are a noisy flock of gulls (that's their proper name) that congregate on my neighbour's flat roof and make a disturbing noise commencing at 4am. So I wear earplugs at night and sleep so well.

People complain about them on the seafront here but that just irritates me; they are beautiful birds whose food stocks humans have depleted and so they scavenge here on land. The same goes for pigeons; a 'problem' of our own making!

 

[Kulern]

There are a noisy flock of gulls (that's their proper name) that congregate on my neighbour's flat roof and make a disturbing noise commencing at 4am. So I wear earplugs at night and sleep so well.

People complain about them on the seafront here but that just irritates me; they are beautiful birds whose food stocks humans have depleted and so they scavenge here on land. The same goes for pigeons; a 'problem' of our own making!

They usually live by the sea. So thats likely why seagulls are so frequent in Norway overall. Due to the fjords there.
But getting swooped by them during nesting season, which is between June or July is something i have gotten used to by now
At first i didnt like it though

But pigeons however are peaceful birds, sure the diseases from the crapping might be a problem. But overall.

 

[Ukigumo]

They usually live by the sea. So thats likely why seagulls are so frequent in Norway overall. Due to the fjords there.

In the UK, they're mainly found in abundance around municipal landfill sites, well inland. I saw more in Manchester (inland) than I do in my current coastal location.

But getting swooped by them during nesting season, which is between June or July is something i have gotten used to by now
At first i didnt like it though

I've learned to eat my cheesy chips on the seafront in a defensive manner; I sit on a bench with a palm tree behind me, open the lid on chips, stuff one in my mouth and close the box immediately! I call it 'eating Bushi-style'!

But pigeons however are peaceful birds, sure the diseases from the crapping might be a problem. But overall.

I love them and they're amazingly acrobatic flyers. I feed them on my balcony and use disinfectant (Jeyes Fluid) the area a couple of times a week.

 

[Ukigumo]

I like them, but I'm also wary of them.

I've heard cognitive scientists suggesting they are as intelligent as 2 year old human children!

Sadly, last Thursday, I saw an injured crow die near our house. It was surrounded by a flock of fellow crows, who stood guard over their stricken companion and almost seemed to be saying their farewells.

That is so touching

During lockdown, I was training Iaido with a friend on his street(!). All of a sudden a large crow swooped down on him as he sat on a chair, and sat on his shoulder. He greeted it and the crow enjoyed having his/her beak and head stroked by my friend. I was shocked thinking, for a second, 'SORCERY!' He explained his neighbour found him as a bedraggled starving young bird, so they both fed and watered him/her and provided shelter and love. The crow remained 'wild' but visits several times a week for a bit of attention and affection

 

[Lothor]

I was with my nephew on Brighton pier when he was five, and a seagull stole his chip butty. He told me solemnly two years later that all seagulls deserve to die!

 

[Ukigumo]

I was with my nephew on Brighton pier when he was five, and a seagull stole his chip butty. He told me solemnly two years later that all seagulls deserve to die!

No doubt you weren't eating 'bushi style'

 

[Kulern]

I was with my nephew on Brighton pier when he was five, and a seagull stole his chip butty. He told me solemnly two years later that all seagulls deserve to die!

A Norwegian ballade of how much he hates seagulls. Thats this entire song

 

[Ukigumo]

Exception is "Clock Tower 1995" game. Crows are heroes in that game. And also is cool detail that. A crow will remember your face for 5 years. If you are mean to it, it will attack you. If you are nice to the crow, it likely will give you gifts.

But in Japan. It seems culturally they dont like crows much. In Zelda A Link to the Past you attack crows for example (Then again you also attack chickens which... games were messed up sometimes haha : P). Then again, so was being a kid too.

But just curious what you think

By the way, is it sensible to build your world view and obtain your opinions from, of all things video games?

 

[mdchachi]