Whale swim in Japan - Wildlife of Japan

2021.10.11 update

A Sperm Whale Calf Approached The Ship! (Ogasawara Islands)

The water of Chichi-jima (Father Island) in the Ogasawara Islands, at depth of 1,500-2,000meters, are known as a place where female sperm whales with their calves observed throughout the year.

Having said that, it is best to visit this area when the seas are calmer, usually from July to October.

In October, on a day when the conditions were favorable, we headed to the whale watching area off Chichi-jima. We were lucky to encounter a group shortly after we started our search. Each of the groups was made up of 3 to 6 individuals.
Then, we found a lone calf by itself, patiently waiting for its mom, who had gone for a dive into the deep sea.

The baby looks as if it is flying, with such clear water. The calf’s body was a lighter color, but it had the typical wrinkles primarily seen on Sperm Whales, along with some scars of bitemarks from the cookie-cutter sharks.

This young sperm whale, swimming upside down towards our boat, was so close, that we could actually hear the “talking” clicking sounds on our ship!

We could so clearly see the lower jaw of the whale!!!

We parted for a little, but then it returned, approaching the boat again. This time with its mouth open.

This is the calf with its mouth wide open. We could clearly hear the clicking sounds again.

Amazingly, it flattened its fins and rotated while swimming into the edge of the ship, making the suckerfish scuttle around. Perhaps this was an offensive ?

A sperm whale swimming towards the direction of Chichi-jima.

This young sperm whale also came up alongside our ship, raised its face and seemed to look up over at the top of our boat.
The youngster seemed to enjoy spending time with us and then, eventually left and swam back to its mother and the family.

In Ogasawara, you can see these groups of females with their calves, but I wonder if we could ever see a male that comes to have mate someday? It would be such a dream to be able to see a male sperm whale in such clear water like this!

Photo & text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Oct 2020, Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands
Special Thanks: FISH EYE

Tags: Whale Watching in Ogasawara, Whale Watching in Japan, Wildlife tour of Japan, Whale swim in Japan, Whale swim in Amami, Sperm Whale, Wildlife of Japan, Wildlife tour in Japan, Sperm Whale in Japan, Bonin Islands, Sperm Whale swim in japan, Ogasawara Islands, Wildlife in Japan, Whale Watching

2021.06.25 update

（Video） Humpback Whale Watching & Swim in Amami Oshima

This is the highlight reel of the late March Amami Oshima Swim with Whales Tour. The main attraction of Amami Oshima is that you can do both whale watching and swimming here.

Amami Oshima is the main island of the Amami Island chain located between Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu and the Okinawa Islands. Every year, humpback whales migrate here from January to March. Some of the whales will stay nearby, while others migrate further south to Okinawa’s main island and the Kerama Islands.
During the whale encounter, we were able to swim with three whales: a one-year old baby whale, it mother, and an escort whale.

奄美大島のザトウクジラ Humpback Whale in Amami Oshima

Video: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Mar 2021, Amami Oshima
Special Thanks: Dive Species AMAMI

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2021.05.18 update

Mother and Calf Humpback Whales (Amami Oshima)

This is a report of the Amami Oshima Whale Watching Tour from early March.

Every year from January to March, the Humpback Whales, which spend their summers of Kamchatka-Aleutian Islands, will spend their winter months in Amami Oshima for breeding. Most of them head south to the Kerama Islands of Okinawa, but whales some stay near the Amami Islands. There, you might be able to encounter mother whales as they are nursing young whales or the male escort whales that will chase after the females in a ‘heat run.’

On this tour, we had some inclement weather so we could only go out to see for 3 of the 5 days. Despite the short time observing, we could manage to see a ‘heat run’ from the boat, as well as see the mother and calf plus an escorting male whale in the water. The calf was about a year old and very active.

In the morning hours, we couldn’t encounter any whales, but during the afternoon, we were told “There is a wonderful mother and calf out here now” and we rushed to the area. As soon as we could, we were in the water and the pair appeared right in front of us. It is really amazing to see them in person.

The frolicking yearling calf. It was active, doing tail slaps and pectoral fin slaps at the surface of the water.

This mother whale was very tolerant and with the escort whale watches the calf very closely. Even when the people were close to her calf. This mother must have experience raising her calves and has perhaps gotten used to humans, too.

The calf also swam in circles around its mother, showing us its belly. One day, this calf will grow up and leave the Amami Oshima area, moving north as it sets out independently by that time.

This one shot of the three whales together was a stunning highlight for the day!
Perhaps you are wondering what we did when we couldn’t get out to sea? We went for nature walks in the virgin forests of Kinsakubara, did some birdwatching, explored mangroves by canoe, and searched for the endemic Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi). We could enjoy a full tour of all the beautiful natural areas the Amami Islands has to offer!

Photo & Text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Mar 2021, Amami Oshima, Kyushu
Special Thanks: Dive Species AMAMI

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