The Japanese Red Crowned Crane is also known as the Manchurian Crane, it is one of the rarest specie of Cranes in the world, it stands tall at 62 inches with a maximum weight of 15kg, this makes it one of the largest specie of Cranes in the world.

The Red Crowned Crane is snow white with black wings, its also black around the neck and head but the most identifiable feature, of this crane is the red patch on its head, this patch has being known to get very bright, when the red crane is either angry or excited.

The Red Crowned Crane has a long life span, some say that it can even live for up to a thousand years! That's why in some parts of the world, the Red Crowned Crane is regarded as a symbol of longevity, fidelity and even good luck. In mythic legends, the Red Crowned Crane is also regarded as a symbol of Immortality, as those with the power of long life are most times drawn riding the Red Crowned Crane.
The Red Crowned Crane, is also regarded as a symbol of nobility, as there are many drawings of the Red Crowned Crane, on some tombs as well as ceremonial objects in Japan.

The Red Crowned Crane can only lay two eggs and sadly, only one usually survives to adulthood. The Red Crowned Crane mostly favors wet areas such as marshes, river banks, swamps and even rice fields. It likes to eat insects and plants which can be found in and around its habitat, the red crowned crane also enjoys small amphibians as well.

In the spring and summer, the red crowned crane’s breeding ground is either in China, Siberia or Mongolia. Usually, there are some resident Red Crowned Cranes in Hokkaido Japan but most migrate to the Yellow River and the Yancheng Coastal Wetlands in China, some also fly down to Korea for the winter, there are also some sightings of the red crowned crane in Taiwan as well.

Estimated population of the Red Crowned Crane, has being pegged at 2,750 and this includes the sometimes, one thousand that is usually resident in some areas of Japan. The Red Crowned Crane, is a constant feature on the Japanese yen and its also one of the official logos for a Japanese airline.

The Latin meaning of Red Crowned Crane is Japanese Crane, this was solely the reason why it was dropped as the national animal for China.