The cranes are the common name for large, beautiful and elegant wading birds of the crane family, which is divided into two subfamilies.

The Cranidae and the Coronaviridae, with four genera and 15 species.

There are 3 genera and 13 species of cranes in the subfamily, and they are found on all continents outside of South America.

The most famous of these is the Tantai crane, which is a beautiful bird with a curvaceous neck, long, straight and slender feet, white feathers, black wings and a bright red crown.

Hokkaido is home to six national parks, including Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya, and the natural scenery, including majestic mountains, beautiful coastlines and mysterious lakes, is spectacular.

In spring, nature is transformed by the flowers and grasses that bloom all over the mountains.

In summer, the green hills and the blue sea are the best time to go hiking.

In autumn, the mountains are full of beautiful red leaves. In winter, Hokkaido is a world of silver and white, with the drifting ice of the Okhotsk Sea, beautiful cranes and white swans.

The crane is almost pure white, with a bare, vermilion head and black cheeks, throat and neck.

The bones of the crane are seven times stronger than human bones, and when migrating, they often form clever wedge-shaped rows.

So that the individuals behind them can take advantage of the airflow generated by the flapping of the wings of the individuals in front of them in turn.

In Japan, the crane is likened to a symbol of devoted love.

Most wild cranes have mates who stay together for life.

When one crane dies, the other is left alone.

An earthenware vessel with a crane painted on it was unearthed in the 8th century at the site of the imperial residence of King Nagaya, the oldest piece of earthenware with a crane painted on it.

In Japan, cranes are mainly associated with longevity and nobility, and if a Japanese person's name includes the word crane, it usually means that the parents want their child to live a long and healthy life.

For this reason, it is common for Japanese people to bring 'senbaku' (paper cranes strung together with thread) to visit the sick.

The cranes are also often printed on the wrapping cloths used for celebrations.

In 1964, the crane was designated as the bird of Hokkaido, and in 1984, a thousand yen note was issued with the crane on the reverse.

The Tsurumaru logo of Japan Airlines is also based on the design of the crane.

This shows the importance of the crane in Japanese culture.