Text by Alex
Hokkaido has three famously cute animals: the flying squirrel, the Eurasian bullfinch, and the red fox, but this snow-rich land is home to far more than just three adorable creatures. Takashi (@takashi_okashi), an ecologist photographer based in Sapporo, recently came across a Hokkaido sable. Thanks to the perfect shooting angle that zoomed in on the sable’s adorable face, netizens couldn’t help but praise how incredibly cute it was.
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The Hokkaido sable (also known as the Japanese sable), famed for its valuable fur, has a pair of round, shiny black eyes. Although it’s called a sable, it actually has light brown fur, with one particularly distinctive feature: a tuft of yellowish-brown hair near its chest and neck area. However, what caught the attention of netizens wasn’t its fur, but the little tongue it accidentally stuck out and the “paw pads” (cushions) on its feet—so adorable it was almost “otherworldly” (referred to in Japanese as “yousei,” or fairy!).
▲ The Hokkaido sable popping out from a snow pile. (Photo by takashi_okashi @IG)
▲ It appears to be holding food it had stored earlier in its mouth. (Photo by takashi_okashi @IG)
As the photos received widespread praise, photographer Takashi also responded to popular demand and posted more images of the Hokkaido sable on social media. In fact, Takashi has captured a wide variety of wildlife in Hokkaido through his lens. In addition to the “big three” and the sable, these include brown bears, pikas (believed to be the inspiration for Pikachu), Hokkaido squirrels, kingfishers, Ural owls, and red-crowned cranes. Those interested can check out his Instagram page.
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▲ A tuft of yellowish-brown hair near the chest and neck area is especially eye-catching. (Photo by takashi_okashi @IG)
▲ (Photo by takashi_okashi @IG)
▲ Irresistible “paw pads” (foot cushions). (Photo by takashi_okashi @IG)
▲ The perfect angle makes the adorable face look even cuter. (Photo by takashi_okashi @IG)
Source: @takashi_okashi