News On Japan

Lost Parrot Boards Bullet Train Riding on Unsuspecting Tourist

KYOTO, Aug 22 (News On Japan) - A parrot that strayed onto the Tokaido Shinkansen during the summer travel rush was spotted perched neatly on the backrest of a seat.

Passengers wondered if it had escaped from one of their fellow travelers, but when a security officer on board searched for the owner, no one came forward.

Where did this parrot board the train? The answer to this mystery was witnessed by a passenger who captured the scene.

According to the observer, the parrot had landed on the shoulder of a foreign tourist at Kyoto Station. Unnoticed, it remained there as the tourist boarded the train bound for Tokyo.

The bird’s journey could have turned into an adventure across the nearly 500 kilometers from Kyoto to Tokyo, but it was quickly captured by two crew members shortly after boarding.

The parrot was later handed over to the police at Tokyo Station.

It turns out that the owner, a woman living in Kyoto, had posted on social media the day before, saying she was searching for her lost parrot.

Comparing the photos posted online with the bird spotted on the train, the resemblance was striking: a red face and green body—unmistakably the same parrot.

Did the owner and the lost parrot manage to reunite safely?

The parrot's owner expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thanks to the help of so many people on X (formerly Twitter), a miracle happened. We were able to reunite, and it's all thanks to everyone's support."

Prompted by the call for information on social media, the 'miracle reunion' was successfully realized.

Currently, the parrot is in good health and lively, but the owner is now more cautious about allowing the bird to roam freely indoors, which had led to its escape.

Source: FNN

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Nagoya is on the verge of a major transformation. Over the next decade, the cityscape is expected to undergo a dramatic shift as large-scale redevelopment projects reshape its urban core. The focus is on three key districts—Meieki, Sakae, and Kanayama—each developing in a way that highlights its own unique strengths.

Scholars affiliated with the Science Council of Japan formed a symbolic human chain in front of the National Diet building on May 8th, calling for revisions to the government’s proposed reform bill targeting the council’s structure, as deliberations enter their final phase in the Diet.

Across Japan, road collapses have been occurring with increasing frequency, often blamed on aging infrastructure. In one recent incident in Ashioshi, Saitama Prefecture, a truck was swallowed by a gaping sinkhole.

Two men who were arrested for forcibly entering an elementary school in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, and assaulting staff members have been identified as friends of a student's mother. One of the suspects denies the charges, claiming he was only brushing people off after being restrained.

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in Wakkanai and Kushiro, marking the near completion of Japan's cherry blossom front for 2025.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

Gifu’s Norikura Skyline is set to reopen on May 15th, and in preparation, a bus company in Takayama City conducted a trial run of the shuttle buses that carry visitors to Mount Norikura.

The Ukiha roadside station, ranked No. 1 in the Kyushu and Okinawa region for nine consecutive years in a nationwide roadside station ranking, is set to reopen following large-scale renovations.

Meitetsu has announced that it will introduce new train cars on its Toyota Line for the first time in 48 years. Starting next fiscal year, the new 500-series trains will operate on the sections shared by the Toyota Line, Inuyama Line, and the Nagoya City Subway's Tsurumai Line.

Kobe is a city blessed by both the sea and the mountains. One of its most defining features is Mount Ichizan, part of the Rokko mountain range. Long known as the birthplace of modern mountaineering in Japan, this area is home to a variety of distinctive peaks. Nestled within one of them, in Kobe’s Chuo Ward, lies Juzenji Temple, a Zen temple with a history spanning over 950 years.

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in Wakkanai and Kushiro, marking the near completion of Japan's cherry blossom front for 2025.

At least 24 mountain climbing accidents have occurred in Nagano Prefecture since the start of the Golden Week holidays in late April, resulting in four fatalities.

In preparation for Kyoto’s Aoi Festival, one of the city’s three major festivals, the featured heroine known as the Saio-dai took part in a purification ritual called Gomiso-gi no Gi to cleanse herself before the main event.

A traditional horseback ritual showcasing advanced riding techniques was held on May 5th at Fujinomori Shrine in Kyoto’s Fushimi Ward, known for its association with the god of horses.