The above link is to the wikipedia article on the origins of the mythical three-legged Raven, or Jungle Crow, called Yatagarasu. This three legged bird happens to be featured in the Japan Football (Soccer) Association's logo. Historically, the appearance of the Raven, or Jungle Crow on the battle field (obviously they showed up for dinner)was seen as a sign of divine intervention in human affairs. Thus the large black birds became a traditional symbol of victory in Japan.
I post this here to remind modern Japanese people who are not Crow fans that your ancestors had the wisdom to revere these majestic creatures. Fig and I have encountered very few people who are not Crow fans in Japan, by the way. It seems like almost everyone is curious, admiring, empathetic, and supportive of poor Fig.
Yatagarasu means "eight span Crow"; I wonder if the eight spans refers to the Raven, or Jungle Crow's prominent, splayed flight feathers? I wonder if the cry Yatta! which means Hooray! in Japanese, as all Heroes TV show fans surely know, came from this mythological creature's name?
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