Japan's toki birds are a symbol of friendship

Chinese President Jiang Zemin with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at a banquet at the Imperial Palace in November 1998 Asahi Shimbun File photo Toki-iro pale gentle pink is named after the color of the beautiful wings of the toki Japanese crested ibis.

The bird was mentioned in Nihon Shoki The Chronicles of Japan compiled in 720 under a graceful name written in three kanji characters denoting peaches, flower and bird. Toki could be seen all over Japan until the Edo Period 1603 -- 1867 They became victims of overhunting during the Meiji Era 1868 -- 1912 and the species was driven to the brink of extinction.

In 2003, the last surviving Japanese crested ibis, named Kin, died at the age of 36.

Approximately 480 birds grace the wide skies today, over locations mainly along the Sea of Japan, such as Sado Island.

Their revival started with a pair of China gifted to Japan.

In 1998, Chinese President Jiang Zemin promised to give the birds, named You You and Yang Yang, as a symbol of bilateral friendship when he became China's first head of state to visit Japan.

He made a promise during a meeting with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, who is now the emperor emeritus and empress emerita. He told Akihito, I understand that Your Majesty is an outstanding avian expert. He was rarely seen in public since he retired from the presidency in 2003.

I am vividly remembering the harsh tone of Jiang's speech at a banquet held at the Imperial Palace in the evening of the day he announced the gift of the birds.

He bluntly stated that Japan's militarism had taken the wrong path of overseas aggression and expansion.

That scene foreshadowed the ensuing years of strained relations between the two countries.

Jiang fanned nationalism at home while putting its economy on track for development as a nation of 1.3 billion over more than a decade.

Today, China has grown into the world's second largest economic power. With President Xi Jinping set on consolidating his power, the nation is pursuing a hard-line policy.

I can't imagine anyone wanting two neighboring nations to continue antagonizing each other. I want to believe that Jiang s wish was for that pair of toki to represent permanence.

Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that covers a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. The column, written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, provides useful insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.