Just when you think Japan has more than enough adorable mascots and characters, one has stolen the spotlight. Bird watching is a popular pastime in Japan as diligent conservation efforts and the ...

SAPPORO — They are small, cute and very fluffy, and now white birds affectionately known as “snow fairies” are winging their way into the hearts of people across Japan. Shima-enaga, a subspecies of ...

It is about 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) long, with its tail making up about half of its total length. The best time to see them is from autumn to spring, when they are most visible flitting from ...