Thirty-foot telescopic nets, bug-collecting video games, and beetle pets: Entomology in modern Japan.
Akito Y. Kawahara
American Entomologist
Volume 53 Number 3 Fall 2007
Insects form a large part of the culture in Japan. Traditional Japanese and Chinese artwork has incorporated insects since before 600 AD.
Insects are also a big part of childhood. In many western societies a child may keep a pet mouse growing up, but in Japan, especially with boys, a stag beetle or horned rhinoceros beetles are more popular. These are often raised from the grub stage and can be bought in pet shops, petting zoos or from vending machines! Another insect pet is Susu-mushi an orthoptera, popular because the males make a nice sound. Rearing of insects is encouraged by zoos as part of conservation programmes. Children will be given a pair of insects to breed and any eggs laid will be given back to the zoo.
Insects are a big part of Japanese education. There are many entomological books written for children, both educational and fictional (where the insect is rarely the villain), they are featured in educational and cartoon television programmes and are taught about in the science classroom. Many of the most popular videogames are based around insects.
Insects also feature as fancy-dress costumes, toys (including a stuffed, talking hat), on lolly wrappers and at one stage to promote a soft drink you could get a free model of an insect that featured in a popular book.
Insect collectingis taken very seriously in Japan. Most of the equipment available is standerdised. These include envelope carry cases which ome with straps attatched to hold vials and killing jars, net shaft which range in lengths from the very short to the rediculously long for canopy collecting. Nets are also available in different sizes and colours, depending on the variety of insect you desire to catch.
Entomology in Japan is regarded as a hobby as it does not pay well and most have a day job. Most published taxonimists are self taught and work from home. As full time jobs do not provide many holidays, enthusiasts look foward to retirement so they can spend their days finishing off their collections or adding different specimins to ones that they have specialised in.
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I want a horned rhinoceros beetle. Why can't our zoos do this to Mr. zookeeper
ReplyDeleteThats a great idea to try get more people interest in conservation.
ReplyDeleteIts like that arcticle i read in one of the American Ecologist serials, the designer of pokemon actualy designed it based on isects because of his love for them.
Imagine trying to make an insect collection of pokemon, you'd need some major pins. And a rather large and more effective kill jar, wouldnt want one of them to wake up with you trying to put a pin though it.
It's great that people in some countries are interesting in insects, and try to conserve them as a hobby! Because in many cultures, insects are not popular at all and most people only consider them as a nuisance. I think the education of children as you described in your article is the most efficient way to make people more interested and concerned about insect conservation.
ReplyDeleteI will give a beetle to my little sister :)