Meloimorpha japonicus

Bell cricket (Suzumushi)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Family: Gryllidae
Genus: Meloimorpha
Species: M. japonica
Binomial name
Meloimorpha japonica
(Haan, 1842)

Meloimorpha japonicus, also known as Suzumushi (鈴虫, bell cricket) and bell-ring cricket'. is a kind of cricket native to Asia. It is known particularly for its song in Japan.

In Japanese literature

M. japonicus is an autumn kigo used in haiku. 'Suzumushi' is also the title of chapter 38 of The Tale of Genji, authored by Murasaki Shikibu. For unknown reasons, it is the only chapter skipped in Arthur Waley's translation of the book.

Suzumushi are kept as pets by Chieko Sada, the main character of Kawabata's novel The Old Capital and are mentioned several times.


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