My annual 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 I first considered the pose on the emblem, and my experience spotting and photographing them in Hokkaido, I’d say the resemblance between the emblem and the Red-crowned cranes I’ve 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 my Hokkaido Photo Tour, I 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 I have been brought to tears while photographing them.