Oshishi

Oshishi is the Japanese name for the wild boar, the wild form of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa). It is a large, robust mammal in the pig family, found across much of Eurasia and North Africa and introduced elsewhere in some regions.

They have a sturdy body, a coarse coat that ranges from brown to gray, and a relatively short, upturned snout. Males possess long, curving tusks used in fighting and foraging.

Wild boars occupy forests, woodlands, grasslands, and agricultural areas. They are highly adaptable and often occur near human activity. In Japan, oshishi are common in rural and mountainous regions.

They are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Diet includes roots, tubers, fruits, seeds, insects, small vertebrates, and carrion. Social structure is typically female groups called sounders; boars are more solitary, especially outside the breeding season. They are usually active at dawn and dusk.

Breeding can occur year-round in warm climates; gestation about 112–120 days, with litters of 4–8 piglets. Piglets are cared for by the sow until weaning at several weeks.

The wild boar has a broad global distribution and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though local populations may decline due to hunting or habitat loss, and in many regions they are considered pests because of crop damage and traffic collisions.