The Japanese word for whale is kujira (traditional Japanese) and hoēru (English loanword).
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| Romanji | Kanji | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Whale くじら | Kujira | 鯨 | |
| Whale (English loanword) ホエール | Hoēru | None | |
| Sperm whale まっこうくじら | Makkō kujira | 抹香鯨 | |
| Blue whale シロナガスクジラ | Shironagasukujira | 抹香鯨 | |
| Beluga whale シロイルカ | Shiroiruka | 白海豚 | |
| Minke whale 小イワシクジラ | Ko iwashikujira | 小鰯鯨 | |
| Antarctic minke whale クロミンククジラ | Kurominkukujira | くろみんく鯨 | |
| Baleen whale ヒゲクジラ | Higekujira | 鬚鯨 |
Interesting facts about whales in Japan
A number of different types of whales frequent the waters around Japan – such as sperm, humpback and pilot whales. The best place to see them from up close is at the Zamami Village in Okinawa.