Capybaras relax at a zoo in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Image from capybarahp YouTube channel. [1]
Japan is experiencing a bit of a love affair with the capybara, the large, hamster-like rodent with a gentle disposition and a preference for hot spring baths. [2]
For example, the YouTube channel “capybara lover's page” [3] has more than 6,000 subscribers and six million views. The YouTube channel's mission? “To introduce capybaras with the highest-resolution video possible.” [4]
The video “scratching many capybaras” has so far racked up more the 1.2 million views:
There's also I Love Capybaras [5] (カピバラ大好き [5]), a website devoted to the world's largest rodent. There is a blog [6], a YouTube channel [1] and a Twitter account [7], but most of the action happens on a Facebook page [8] that has 33,000 followers and is frequently updated.
The main attraction of the website is a “capybara navigator” [9] that shows where to find the hamster-like rodent in prefectures all over Japan.
The page's Twitter account has some amusing images as well:
レオマリゾートのカピバラ達（3頭）も会って来ました。今から飛行機に乗って帰ります。ちゃんとブログに訪問記書きます〜少しブログさぼってたからね。 pic.twitter.com/1hr44JGIPt [10]
— 渡辺克仁◎カピバラ写真家 (@capybarahp) April 27, 2016 [11]
I went and saw the capybaras at Reoma Resort [12] (in Kagawa on the island of Shikoku), and I'll be flying back home today. I'll provide an update on my blog.
The most popular video on the YouTube channel shows a capybara jumping from a pool:
Capybaras, which are native to South America, are well-known in Japan thanks to the popular cartoon character Kapibara-san [13].
【TRYWORKSより】
カピバラさんが大人気ゲーム「LINEポコパン」とコラボしました！
カピバラさんたちが召喚動物や友だちランキングに登場したり
内容もりだくさん♪
詳細はこちらhttps://t.co/MSX5rqFzkY [14] pic.twitter.com/lJKJqCJ6kt [15]— カピバラさん by TRYWORKS (@FROM_TRYWORKS) May 27, 2016 [16]
From TRYWORKS: Kapibara-san is collaborating with LINE Pokopan [17] in a hit new game! Kapibara-san ranks against other animals and friends for loads of fun. Details here: https://t.co/MSX5rqFzkY [14] pic.twitter.com/lJKJqCJ6kt [15]
The love for capybaras is not limited to Japanese people.
Umami Dearest [18], a member of American online community MetaFilter [19], has also created a guide to animal cafes in Japan, and her website includes where to see capybaras [20] in that country.
Capybaras are big at Japanese animal-petting spots #capybara [21] #gianthamster [22] #wetcapybara [23] http://t.co/8Re8C0LM49 [24] pic.twitter.com/1lNZpHtFVC [25]
— Animal Cafes (@AnimalCafes) August 7, 2015 [26]
For those who are interested, Umami Dearest has also posted some handy FAQ's about animal cafes in Japan [27].