The Japanese word for tiger is tora. In the table below we have listed various tiger species with their kana writings and Japanese pronunciations.
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| Romanji | Kanji | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger トラ | Tora | 虎 | |
| Siberian Tiger アムールトラ | Amūru tora | アムール虎 | |
| Bengal Tiger ベンガルトラ | Bengaru tora | ベンガル虎 | |
| Sumatran Tiger スマトラトラ | Sumatora tora | スマトラ虎 | |
| South China Tiger アモイトラ | Amoi tora | アモイ虎 |
Interesting facts about tigers in Japan
Tigers are native to Asia but you won’t find any wild ones in Japan. Interestingly though, Japan was once home to wild tigers but they went extinct about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Find out more here.
The only way you will be able to see tigers up close in Japan is by visiting zoos and animal parks. They are also often mentioned in Japanese literature and folklore, and are depicted in Japanese art as they are associated with strength, power, and ferocity.