Natural Monuments of Japan in 
Okayama

Hi Grade 2 students,

We read your World Environment Day 
contribution yesterday. 

Your messages on the site are very 
important to remember for us too.

We have never seen a real cheetah. 
We know cheetahs are fast runners, 
but they look scaring. You said@
Shadow was gentle and pretty. Is 
Shadow kept by someone? How old 
is he?

Are there wild cheetahs, elephants, 
gorillas in South Africa? 

We have lots of natural monuments in 
Japan. There are some in Okayama 
Prefecture --- "Tancho-zuru 
(Japanese crane),"Osanshouo" (giant 
salamander), and about a 800-year-
old gingko tree. "Tancho" and "O-
sanshouo" are protected in nature 
conservation centers as they are 
endangered. Wild "Tancho" are only 
seen in Hokkaido in Japan. It is 
said that very few wild 
"Osanshouo" live in Okayama!! We 
hope we can show them to Dipper 
during his stay with us!

Do you have cranes in your country? 
"Tancho" is the most beautiful and 
the largest crane of all in Japan. 
It has been loved by Japanese as a 
symbol of long life, love and grace.

Love,
LABO Torigoe Party