Crane Diplomacy: Auspicious Gifts of a Species on the Brink of Extinction

Abstract

The Red-crowned Crane is well-recognised as an auspicious symbol of longevity and happiness in East Asia. Admired for its beauty and grace, the crane also represented the ultimate gift in early twentieth century Japan. The more rare it became in the wild, the more prized and valued the bird became within elite political and diplomatic circles. Who gifted cranes and why? Once given, what was expected in return? What does the giving of cranes reveal about the interrelationship between power, politics, and nature in Japan? In this talk, Janet Borland explores the significance of giving cranes as gifts both within Japan and overseas, a practice that continued well into the postwar period.