Japan 2. Here there be Giants 2

The Japanese Giant Salamander: Folklore and Conservation Efforts

Dell Payne-Hoover

    During our stay in Nishawakura we spent a lot of time working with an environment restoration group. A main focus is on the Japanese giant salamander, a relic of the past with extensive folklore and culture surrounding it. In their prime they are known to grow to be 5 feet in length and weigh somewhere between 55-66lbs, with the capability to take someones fingers off if provoked. 
    These fierce creatures tend to feed on fish, bugs, and almost anything that will fit inside its mouth in adulthood, however according to a local folk story we heard they are also capable of eating children who wander too close to their dens.
    While in Nishiawakura a man currently leading the charge in giant salamander habitat restoration named Jimmy gave us a re-telling of local myths surrounding the giant salamanders in the area. 
    The story takes place a little over 300 years ago in Nishiawakura in a small rice farming town surrounded by forested hills and expansive streams. 
    It started small, with a few children here and there going out to play in the forest alone at night to never return, but those disappearances did not go unnoticed and the village went on an expedition to find their lost children only to stumble upon the biggest giant salamander any of the villagers had ever seen. Evidence of the children surrounding the den.
    No one in the village could take on such a foe alone and so they all gathered their coin together to hire a samurai from a few towns over to return the village safety. The samurai arrived and fought this slimy beast day and night. His endurance wearing thin, he hit a lucky blow on the monster finally putting him to rest for good. 
    The samurai settled down in the town, and for a while all was peaceful and the children ran safe in the woods once again. However mysteriously one by one, every few months a family member of the samurai would unexplainably fall dead. The samurai couldn't sit still and let this happen to his loved ones and so he and the town set off to investigate. They found the spirit of the salamander had come back, transformed by its hate into a demon spirit that was killing to seek revenge for its life cut short.
    To appease the salamander spirit a shrine was made and those from all around the town brought offerings and made prayers to the salamander. The gifts eased his aching spirit and finally, true peace was brought to Nishiawakura. 
    I cant say how much truth is hidden in this folk story, but still to this day every August the village holds a massive festival in honor of the giant salamander killed that day, keeping its angry spirit calm. 
    In the present day the Giant salamander faces extinction due largely to habitat loss from urbanization. Most of japans waterways are lined with concrete which makes nesting and safely laying eggs impossible for these creatures. Jimmy is attempting to track the salamander population in Japan and restore some of their nesting grounds, but its been difficult to secure any funding for the project. There is also the growing issue of hybridization, when Japanese giant salamanders crossbreed with Chinese giant salamanders imported and released by the illegal pet trade. These hybrids are known to be very aggressive in contrast to the Japanese giant salamanders generally docile unless provoked.
    I feel incredibly grateful to have seen and learned so much about the habitat restoration projects that are beginning to take place in Japan to save this incredibly special species. These salamanders hold such a special place environmentally and culturally and I'm honored to get to share a little of that history with you.

Japanese giant salamander photographed in its natural habitat by St. Michael's College Student Dell Payne-Hoover. While it is impossible to know precisely, this 60 cm (2 feet) individual could be upwards of 60 years old.