Oxycomanthus japonicus

No.15 Japanese Feather Star

Oxycomanthus japonicus is a species of crinoid called a feather star. It belongs to the phylum Echinodermata, which contains sea urchins, starfish, and sea cucumbers. They have five-fold symmetry and have long, flexible arms that are attached to a cup-like body structure. While most have at least ten arms, others might have 80-200 because of their ability to regenerate and duplicate their arms after they have been severed. Like other feather stars, mature Oxycomanthus japonicus individuals can swim because they have no stalk that anchors them. This species prefers shallow water and can be found on rocky seashores around Japan.

Fibrocapsa japonica

No.13 Type of Eukaryotic Algae

Fibrocapsa japonica is a type of eukaryotic algae called a raphidophyte. It is unicellular, golden-brown, has no cell wall, and possesses flagella. First reported in Japan, Fibrocapsa japonica blooms are potentially toxic to marine life and have been associated with large fish mortality events in Japan. It blooms worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters with high nutrient conditions. While the mechanism for its toxicity is not well understood, it is known to produce neurotoxins, mucocysts that can clog fish gills, haemolytic compounds that destroy red blood cells, and reactive oxygen species that injure gill tissue and cause asphyxia.

Prasiola japonica

No.19 Kawanori

Prasiola japonica is a species of freshwater seaweed called “Kawanori” in Japan. In Japanese, this name literally translates to “river seaweed.” It is bright green in color and grows up to 20 cm long and 4 cm wide. Found in Japan and China, it grows in rapid mountain streams attached to rocks. In Japan, it has historically been pressed, dried, and sold as food to be eaten broiled or pickled.

Hyla japonica

No.07 Japanese Tree Frog

Hyla japonica is a species of tree frog native to Japan that can grow to body lengths of 2-5 cm. Like many others in the Hylidae family, Japanese tree frogs possess round adhesive discs on their fingers and toes. Hyla japonica are normally green but can turn into shades of brown and gray depending on their environment. This species is found throughout Japan as well as in Korea, eastern China, northern Mongolia, and eastern Russia. Its habitat includes marshes, forests, rice fields, and river valleys where it forages at night and eats spiders and a variety of insects.