VOL.214 APRIL 2026
THE APPEAL OF YOSHOKU: JAPANESE-STYLE WESTERN CUISINE (PART 2) [Native Creatures of Japan] Japanese Pond Turtle

The Japanese pond turtle (Mauremys japonica) is a native species of Japan that inhabits Honshu west of the Kanto region, as well as Shikoku, Kyushu, and their surrounding islands. It is yellowish brown from the head to the back of the shell, with black shell belly and limbs. There is a bump in the center of the shell, and there are saw-shaped jagged cuts on the rear edge of the young body that wear out and disappear with age. The female is larger than the male; the male’s shell length is about 15 cm, while the female’s is about 21 cm. It prefers environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and rice paddies, and on a sunny day, it is often seen drying its shell on stones or pieces of driftwood near bodies of water. It has a varied diet, including aquatic plants, insects, fish, and shellfish. The Japanese pond turtle population has been decreasing in recent years, due to changes in its habitats caused by river renovations, competition for food with non-native turtles, and competition with other non-native animals such as raccoons. In response to this situation, it has been designated as a near threatened species due to concerns over possible future extinction.

Photo: PIXTA