Introduction
The small village of Tsurui is situated near Kushiro Marsh, a place of beauty all year round.
In spring, cherry trees start to blossom and the massive marsh shrugs off a snowy covering, exchanging brilliant white for fresh light green, which deepens in summer to a darker hue that contrasts beautifully with the bright blue rivers running through it. Autumn sees glorious foliage on the trees that cover the nearby mountains.
This dramatic scenery is the habitat of tancho - the rare and exquisite Japanese red-crowned crane. In spring, pairs raise their chicks in the marsh, while in the summer months they fly to the cornfields with their offspring. It's in the harsh winter, however, that their greatest act begins. Against dazzling snow, these graceful birds sing and begin the intricate dancing that captivates all who see it, an enchanting display in an enchanted setting.
