Comments on: Eating UGUISU MOCHI In Anticipation of Japan’s Most Famous Sound of Spring

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:31:32 +0000

Thanks….I heard this small bird singing its big song when I arrived at Ryoan-ji garden in Kyoto in late March. I was entranced, and asked a Japanese man the bird’s name. He said ‘uguisu’. We couldn’t really see the bird. As we were listening, a group of elderly Japanese ladies came along and they all stopped and went ‘Oooooh!’ excitedly when they heard the song, so I guessed it might be a harbinger of spring. It was wonderful to see the ladies’ sheer pleasure at hearing the uguisu.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:32:59 +0000

Thanks for the info! I’ll have to have a look at my local wagashiya for uguisu mochi. I think I’ve been hearing one of them recently in the trees near my apartment. Had (frustrating) fun last year trying to see the little bird making such a funny noise. Now I know what it was! Thanks : )

By: Avi Landau

Avi Landau — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 07:58:30 +0000

Thanks for your comment Abe-San.It is interesting how the UGUISU has become GREEN in Japan, in the same way that the GREEN light on traffic signals have become BLUE.

By: Abe

Abe — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:25:51 +0000

Thanks Avi
I checked about uguisu and mejiro in internet. They support your opinions, with the reasons of their colors, diets and wariness. I remembered that I found wild mejiro first time. I had never seen mijiro until 14 years ago, when I came toTsukuba from Hokkaido. I was very excited to see the birds, which could be seen only in encyclopedia. Although I heard the sound of uguisu, I have nerver seen it in Hokkido.