Hawks

2024/09/17

Kenichiro Fukasawa

Former President of Matsumoto Mita-kai, 1962 Letters

The Shirakaba Pass in the mountains and Cape Irago by the sea are famous spots for hawk migration. Several species of hawks, such as the Grey-faced Buzzard, Oriental Honey-buzzard, and Common Buzzard, gather at Shirakaba Pass, where the steep mountains easily generate updrafts. In the past, a record of 7,500 birds migrating in a single day was documented. Recently, it is said to be around 4,500 birds. Since migration consumes a lot of physical strength, they use the air currents to spread their wings and fly long distances. The main reason for moving to warmer regions is said to be the disappearance of insects and other primary food sources as it gets colder.

To guide you on the way to Shirakaba Pass, take Route 158 toward Kamikochi and Hida Takayama, and take the route toward Kiso before reaching Lake Azusa (TEPCO's Nagawado Dam). Entering the Nagawa area and proceeding along the river through the village, you will find a "Trout Farm" and other sites. Further along, the scenery gradually turns into a white birch forest, leading to a plaza near the pass. Mount Norikura, standing opposite, is an excellent spot for photography.

On your way back, return to central Nagawa and enjoy the local specialty, "Touji Soba."

Shigeru Tamaki

Chairman of Otawara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 1972 Economics

When I asked Mr. Hiromi Yoshioka, the Vice Chairman who is knowledgeable about chili peppers, he explained that originally, small chili peppers with strong spiciness and curved, pointed tips were likened to a "hawk's claw" (Taka-no-tsume) and used as a name for a specific variety. However, before anyone knew it, it became a synonym for spicy chili peppers in general. In the "Bansho-no-zu" (Illustration of Chili Peppers), said to be written by Hiraga Gennai, "Taka-no-tsume" is introduced. Furthermore, in the contemporary "Wakan Sansai Zue" (Illustrated Sino-Japanese Encyclopedia), it is annotated that "it was called 'Nanban Kosho' in the past, but is now called 'Toukarashi'," showing that "Taka-no-tsume" and "Toukarashi" were already used in the same era. In Hiraga Gennai's writings, there is a variety introduced as "Yatsufusa," distinct from "Taka-no-tsume." It has a slightly weaker spiciness but high yield, spreading throughout the Kanto region centered on Edo and carrying the alias "Naito Chili Pepper." The variety improved from this parent is the "Tochigi Santaka." "Santaka" (Three Hawks) signifies a small chili pepper with a spiciness approaching that of Taka-no-tsume, and it is still cultivated in Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture. In 2019, the city declared itself the top producer of chili peppers in Japan.

Aino Fukada

Part-time Lecturer at Keio University, 2016 Letters, 2018 Letters, 2020 Master of Human Relations

"The Nighthawk Star" (Yodaka no Hoshi) is an early work by Kenji Miyazawa, who was a believer in the "Lotus Sutra."

The nighthawk (yodaka) was disliked by other birds because of its ugly appearance, but it was a kind-hearted bird. In reality, the nighthawk is not a relative of the hawk. It was named so because its appearance when cutting through the wind and the sharpness of its cry resembled a hawk. However, one day, a hawk who disliked this fact pressured the nighthawk to change its name to "Ichizo," threatening to kill it if it did not change it by the morning after next. That night, the nighthawk thought about how many winged insects were eaten and killed by it every night, and how it was now about to be killed by the hawk, and it began to cry loudly. Unable to bear this pain, the nighthawk decided to go far beyond the sky and ascended into the distance. Eventually, the nighthawk emitted a beautiful blue light and became the "Nighthawk Star," continuing to burn quietly.

All life lives and is given life, connected to one another. The nighthawk escaped from that beautiful and sad cycle of reincarnation and became an eternal star.

Hirotake Ono

Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University

The Oriental Honey-buzzard, a medium-sized hawk, has diverse individuals ranging from those with white chests and bellies to light chestnut and dark brown. Having studied the genetic mutations that create coat color polymorphism for many years, I had hoped to one day study the plumage color of the Oriental Honey-buzzard, but I had half-given up, thinking, "It would be impossible to catch many hawks of different colors."

As if my wish had been heard, I was lucky enough to be able to handle preserved Oriental Honey-buzzard feathers. When I examined the genes, I found so many differences in the gene determining dark brown that they could not be explained by intra-species mutations. I am currently studying the difference between white and chestnut, and there seem to be even more differences in this gene. Based on such circumstantial evidence, I am speculating that multiple ancestral species that underwent different evolutions may have hybridized to create the highly diverse species known as the Oriental Honey-buzzard.

For me, as I enter the final stage of my career as a researcher, the encounter with the Oriental Honey-buzzard, which connected my hobby of wild bird watching with my field of expertise, was a great stroke of luck. I look forward to seeing what kind of surprises the Oriental Honey-buzzard will provide in the future.