Taro and Jiro Day

What Is Taro and Jiro Day?

Every January 14th is "Taro and Jiro Day" (タロとジロの日, Taro to Jiro no Hi) in Japan. On January 14, 1959, a helicopter from Japan's third Antarctic expedition reached Showa Station (昭和基地) and found that two of the fifteen sled dogs left behind the previous year, when the planned second wintering party had to be abandoned, — Taro (タロ) and Jiro (ジロ) — had survived alone on the Antarctic ice for approximately one year. The discovery of the surviving dogs made headlines across Japan and touched the nation's heart, becoming one of the most beloved animal stories in Japanese history.

The Story of Taro and Jiro

In February 1958, thick sea ice and bad weather prevented the relief of Japan's first wintering party from being carried out as planned, and the second wintering was called off. Fifteen sled dogs — all Karafuto (Sakhalin Husky) dogs — were left chained near Showa Station. It was assumed they would perish quickly. On January 14, 1959, a helicopter from the third expedition spotted two dogs alive at Showa Station. Taiichi Kitamura, who had been a dog handler with the first wintering party, flew in and called their names; one wagged its tail at "Jiro" and the other at "Taro," confirming that the brothers had survived. Seven dogs had died still chained, and the fate of the other six remains unknown. Exactly what the two brothers ate to survive is still uncertain.

A National Story of Survival

The survival of Taro and Jiro against impossible odds — a full Antarctic winter alone in extreme cold — captured Japan's imagination immediately. The dogs became national celebrities; their story was reported widely, and songs were even written to celebrate them. The story touched themes deeply resonant in Japanese culture: loyalty, endurance, the bond between humans and animals, and survival against overwhelming odds. Japan's post-WWII society, itself recovering from catastrophic adversity, saw in the dogs' survival a powerful allegory for resilience.

Cultural Legacy

The story of Taro and Jiro has been adapted into books, films, and television dramas multiple times. The 1983 Japanese film "Nankyoku Monogatari" (南極物語, "Antarctica") was a massive box office success in Japan. The Hollywood remake "Eight Below" (2006) brought the story to international audiences. Jiro died at Showa Station in 1960, and his taxidermied body is kept at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo. Taro returned to Japan in 1961, lived at the Hokkaido University Botanic Garden in Sapporo, and died of old age in 1970; his taxidermied body is displayed there.

Fun Facts

• Karafuto dogs: The Karafuto Ken (樺太犬), the breed of Taro and Jiro, is a Japanese sled dog breed from the former Karafuto (Sakhalin) territory, related to but distinct from other Japanese Spitz-type breeds. The breed's hardiness was demonstrated by the dogs' Antarctic survival.
• Showa Station today: Japan's Showa Station in Antarctica continues to operate as Japan's primary Antarctic research base, staffed year-round by scientific teams conducting research on climate, atmosphere, and geophysics.