Book Review "A Family Tree of Blakiston's Fish Owls: The author’s Lifework" (Yuko Hayashi 2026)

 

Book Review Yuko Hayashi (2026). “Blakiston’s Fish Owl: Called Kamui in Hokkaido” 「カムイのフクロウ－シマフクロウを追う」. University of Tokyo Press, 192 pp. ISBN: 978-4-13-063968-2. price: 3,520 yen.

I wrote a book review, and here is a summary of the English translation.

The centerpiece of the book is likely the family tree on page 96, which traces the lineage of Blakiston's fish owls. Its complexity rivals that of the Egyptian pharaohs, whose dynasties were marked by frequent inbreeding.

The author spent 37 years creating this diagram—from undergraduate to the president of Japanese Society of Ornithology, including her long tenure as a postdoctoral researcher—to track the breeding records of this specific lineage. One realizes that such dedication underpins the Ministry of the Environment’s conservation and propagation program for the Blakiston’s fish owl, conducted under the Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

This book is also a compelling read as a collection of essays. The writing never feels preachy; instead, the author’s hardships and failures are glimpsed through understated descriptions, fostering a sense of empathy. I also appreciate that the author writes candidly about both the successes and the challenges of conservation efforts.

The author’s words carry significant weight, given his long-standing involvement in Blakiston's fish owl conservation—dating back to before 1990, when the population was likely at its lowest ebb. The book reveals many details that official government documents cannot convey, such as the nature of relationships with the Ministry of the Environment and the Forestry Agency, interactions with specific officials, and the dedication of citizen researchers.

Furthermore, I would like to see consideration given to publishing an English translation. This work holds value comparable to the stories found in Wild Animals I Have Known by Ernest Thompson Seton.