The ribs of Anderson's crocodile newt are untethered to any muscular attachments at their ends and jut into the skin along its back, giving it an armoured appearance. When threatened, it adopts an anti-predator posture — using its sharp rib tips to pierce the rows of bumps on its sides.

Steller's sea-eagle is a rare raptor from the rocky coasts and rivers of northeastern Siberia — flying southwards to Hokkaido, Japan, in winter. It's the world's heaviest eagle and a particularly aggressive species, known to frequently steal fish caught by other eagles.

Lidth's jay is only found on a few of the Ryukyu Islands in southwestern Japan. Its existence has been threatened by the introduction of mongooses and an increased crow presence on these islands. As of a 2016 survey, fewer than 3,900 mature jays are estimated to remain.

The Japanese pygmy seahorse is the size of a grain of rice — about 1.6 cm long (0.6 in) — among the smallest seahorses in the world. It wasn't formally named until 2018, whereupon it received the specific title of "japapigu" or "Japan pig", because locals think it resembles a baby pig.

To make his presence known, a male copper pheasant will drum loudly with his wings — creating a booming "phrrrrp" sound — and show off his tail feathers, which can grow to be 125 cm (4.1 ft) long. The males also fight for a female's favour; jumping and kicking at each other to decide a victor.

For over 1,300 years, the Japanese cormorant has been part of a traditional fishing method known as ukai. A dozen cormorants swim alongside a wooden boat, each held by a leash around the neck. The cormorants catch and swallow fish into their throat pouches and, afterwards, the fishermen make them "cough it up".

The Japanese weasel's agility and lithe body allow it to pursue its prey anywhere; down tunnels, up trees, or into water. During winter, it spends its time pursuing rodents through snowy tunnels and, after catching and eating its target, it lays down to enjoy the warmth of its prey's burrow.

Often described as ghostly, the elusive Japanese serow lives in the wooded mountains of central and southern Japan. Typically solitary, it stands on rocky outcrops, staring down at the landscape for extended periods — likely watching for predators or rivals. It can be active both day and night.

The Chinese softshell turtle uses its tubelike nostrils to "snorkel" while staying submerged beneath the water. Most turtles urinate through their cloacas, but to avoid losing water, the Chinese softshell can secrete urea from its mouth — essentially peeing via its mouth.

Endemic to Japan, the Japanese badger — like other badgers — lives in underground dens called "setts". However, the Japanese badger is known to be more solitary, with even mated pairs often living in separate setts. It is currently unknown why this is the case.