72 Seasons

The pheasant is the national bird of Japan. It is valued for its beautiful feathers, and it has also been prized as a source of food. White pheasants were considered a good omen, to the extent that when presented with a white pheasant the emperor declared a new era, Hakuchi, meaning "white pheasant”. The male pheasant will call incessantly when courting the female, and when this begins, it means that spring is on its way.

©Utsukushii Kurashikata Institute