In Japan, there are several cultural signs that summer has arrived. As the rainy season in most of the country ends, scorching temperatures fill the vacuum. Kids go on summer vacation, and parents seek ways to deplete their seemingly boundless energy.
The distinctive mating call of cicadas fills the air from parks to tree-lined streets. Fortunately for parents, the cicada and the end of the rainy season provide the perfect outlet for kids: bug catching in Japan. Mushi tori (bug catching) is a quintessential Japanese summer pastime for children .
So, here’s an overview of bug catching in Japan, from its history to the most common bugs you can find nearby. History of Bug Catching in Japan Insects have long held an important place in Japan’s cultural landscape. Bugs, for instance, featured in Japanese poetry as early as the 10th century.
From fireflies and butterflies to crickets and caterpillars, ancient authors used bugs to reflect human emotions and capture ephemerality’s beauty. During the Edo period (1603-1868), natural history via China captured the interest of learned classes who took to studying the natural world, including insects. Bug shops, too, opened in marketplaces and sold products for catching bugs and offering insects for sale.
Bug catching earned its place as a treasured childhood pastime after World War II. As Japan’s economic recovery progressed, so too did urbanization. More people began to live in urban centers, and their connection to nature decreased as concrete and asphalt consumed their surroundings.
As part of an effort to return to nature, encouraged by their parents, children turned to the great outdoors, and boys especially went in search of the insects that lived there. Is it Ethical? While many people think of bug catching as nothing more than summertime fun, others wonder: is it ethical? Just as the thought of zoos and aquariums raise concerns over the capture, containment and treatment of their creatures, for some, the same is true for bug catching. As usual, there are arguments for and against bug catching: Arguments For : Arguments Against : If you’re trying to balance the ethics of bug catching with your children begging you for a net and bug box, consider just catching and releasing the bugs or making it not only a lesson on bugs but also morals.
Finally, you don’t actually have to catch them. Just learn about them and observe them in nature. How Do I Catch Bugs? Click here to read more.
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