polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
 clownfish (Amphiprioninae spp., esp. the yellowtail clownfish, Amphiprion clarkii);  anemone fish
 black rat (Rattus rattus);  roof rat
 crested honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus);  Oriental honey buzzard;  pern
 Japanese hornbeam (Carpinus japonica)
 Hodgson's hawk eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis);  mountain hawk-eagle
 Kumamoto (city, prefecture)
 common vervain (Verbena officinalis);  common verbena
 badger;  Eurasian badger (Meles meles);  defensive opening for shogi
 pilgrimage to the three main Kumano shrines
 Three Main Kumano Shrines (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha)
 the average Joe;  your average nice guy;  Joe Blow;  Joe Bloggs
 pilgrimage to the three main Kumano shrines
 Ainu bear-sacrifice festival;  Iomante
 bear-sacrifice ceremony;  ritual killing of a bear
 Japanese carpenter ant (Camponotus japonicus)
 Berchemia racemosa (species of flowering plant related to buckthorn)
 Dryopteris lacera (species of wood fern)
 three main Kumano Shrines (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha)
 kami of the three main Kumano shrines