Deep within the misty mountains of central Japan, a mystery that has lasted for centuries still persists. Despite all adversities, the Japanese wolf, officially declared extinct in 1905, may still roam the wild.
Hiroshi Yagi has spent over 50 years searching for the Japanese wolf (Canis lupus hodophilax), also known as the Honshū wolf or phantom wolf. His journey began in 1969 when, as a young climber, he heard an unforgettable sound while staying at a lodge on Mount Naebasan. “That’s when I heard the howling”, Yagi recounted. “I knew that the Japanese wolf had been declared extinct since the Meiji era, ending in 1912, but I thought, a non-existent animal cannot howl.”
The haunting call that night ignited a mission to prove the Japanese wolf still exists. Yagi’s most compelling evidence emerged on a rainy night in October 1996. While driving through Chichibu Tama Kai National Park, he encountered a wolf-like creature emerging from a stream and approached his car without fear.
In 1996, Hiroshi Yagi, who had been searching for the extinct Japanese wolf for 50 years, captured 19 photographs of a wolf-like creature facing him.
“This happened nearly 30 years ago, and I had little expertise at that time”, Yagi recalled. “But I thought, this must be a wolf.” He took 19 close-up photos of the creature. Its behavior was astonishing – it showed no signs of wariness towards humans, as one would expect from a top predator in the mountains.
Yagi even attempted to offer the creature a rice cracker. “I decided to try giving it an osenbei (a rice cracker) and reached out to offer it to it,” he said. “I’m right-handed, so I offered it the rice cracker with my left hand, thinking that even if it bit my left hand, I would be fine.” However, the creature declined the treat but remained close, allowing Yagi to observe it carefully.
“At that moment, it was right in front of me. I held the rice cracker just under its mouth. But the creature did not take it. It just stood there,” Yagi said. “I tried to see if it smelled like a wild animal, but this creature had no scent at all. And like a newborn baby, it seemed unaware or unafraid of danger.”
Due to insufficient evidence identifying the sighting Yagi witnessed as a Japanese wolf, the creature was referred to as the “Chichibu yaken.”
The photos Yagi took that night sparked the imagination and debate among many. A renowned Japanese zoologist reviewed the photos and described the creature as “extremely wolf-like,” but he did not definitively identify it as the extinct species. Consequently, this creature was dubbed “Chichibu yaken” or “Chichibu wild dog.”
Yagi’s encounter inspired others to share their own stories of wolf-like sightings in the area. The accumulation of these reports has kept the hope alive that the Japanese wolf may have somehow survived by hiding in the remote wilderness.
According to a renowned Japanese zoologist, this creature is ‘extremely wolf-like.’
In recent years, Yagi has utilized modern technology in his ongoing search. He and a small group of enthusiasts installed around 70 motion-activated infrared cameras throughout the Okuchichibu mountain range. Their efforts yielded fascinating evidence in 2018.
One of the cameras captured footage of three deer running by. At first glance, this seemed unremarkable, but upon thorough analysis of the sounds, something potentially groundbreaking was discovered – what appeared to be the howl of a wolf in the background.
“We took the recorded howl to an expert, and he compared it to the howl of the eastern wolf kept at the Asahikawa Zoo in Hokkaido,” Yagi explained. “He stated with 99.5% certainty that the two howls belonged to the same species, and I received a certification of authenticity for the wolf howl recording.”
This audio evidence has reignited interest in the possibility that the Japanese wolf still exists. It adds to the long list of sightings and encounters reported throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
The story of the extinction and potential survival of the Japanese wolf is closely tied to the cultural and environmental history of Japan. Once revered in Shinto beliefs as messengers of the kami gods protecting travelers on mountain trails and safeguarding crops from destructive animals like wild boars and deer, the relationship between wolves and humans soured in the 18th century. The introduction of rabies led to more aggressive behavior in wolves, and deforestation caused increasing conflicts with farmers and villagers.
The Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century saw wolf killings become national policy. In just one generation, the Japanese wolf was pushed to the brink of extinction. The last confirmed specimen was killed in Nara Prefecture on January 23, 1905.
Specimen of the Japanese wolf at Ueno Zoo, Japan.
However, the potential survival of the wolf has captured the imagination of many. Alex Martin, a Japanese-American journalist, embarked on his own search after hearing Yagi’s story: “There are many accounts of sightings, reports of howls, and discoveries of bones, scat, and fur believed to have led some to believe that this creature could still be alive and wandering the mountains of Japan.”
The quest to prove the existence of the Japanese wolf faces significant challenges. This species primarily moves in small packs, but most sighting reports involve solitary animals. Additionally, rampant logging in the wolf’s preferred deciduous forest habitat after World War II has significantly altered the ecosystem.
Despite these obstacles, Yagi remains undeterred. His unwavering belief in the wolf’s survival has driven him for over five decades.
One of the 19 photos taken by Yagi.
Whether the Japanese wolf still haunts the misty mountains or exists only in legend, the journey to find this wolf has become a powerful story in its own right. As the search continues, only DNA evidence can truly confirm or deny the identity of the wild dog seen in the Japanese mountains. Until then, the possibility of the Japanese wolf’s survival remains an intriguing mystery, sustained by the dedication of individuals like Hiroshi Yagi and the enduring cultural significance of this enigmatic creature in Japanese folklore and imagination.
