Tag: Bears

2 articles

Two Kinds of Bear in Autumn: Americans Vote for the Fattest, Japanese Search for "A Bear Got into the Yard"

Since 22 September, Katmai National Park in the United States has opened its annual Fat Bear Week poll, with brown bears competing for the "fattest" title; the same week, Japan's trending searches are about which street a bear walked into. One bear is stocking up on fat, and a crowd of people is also getting ready for winter — this article looks at what "harvest in autumn, store for winter" has grown into in animals and in people.

About 5 minutes WinterStoring for winterBears

Japan: Bears and the Mountain God (Casualties Not Discussed, Only Taboos)

Bear sightings in Japan peak from September to November each year. Matagi bear hunters change the way they speak as they head into the mountains: miso is not called miso, salt is not called salt; once a bear is taken they first perform a rite called kebokai to return the bear's soul to the mountain god. This piece covers only folklore and taboos, not injury incidents.

About 6 minutes Japanese folkloreBearsMountain god