Why More Japanese Are Raising Beetles for a Living
What used to be a childhood hobby is now being taught at vocational schools.
Breeding beetles has become a niche market worth millions of yen a year.
In Japan, the sound of summer is the “cicada buzzsaw.” The first time I heard them at full power on a city street, I literally thought the overhead powerline was broken and about to fall on me.
Speak to older Japanese people, and they will reminisce about another sound of summer. That of excited children whooping as they hunt for and show off rhinoceros beetles (kabutomushi) or stag beetles (kuwagata).
The insects remain popular, being pets for some. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, what used to be a pocket-money pastime of catching, breeding, and selling them has crept its way into a full profession.
“Insect breeder” (インセクトブリーダー) is taught at vocational schools, complete with training programs, sales fairs, and a growing market of enthusiasts.
At one school in Sendai, students organised their own insect sales fair, drawing around 1,000 beetle fans in just a few hours.
The beetle economy
The economics of beetle breeding might surprise you. While a stag beetle in a local pet shop might go for a few hundred yen, rare specimens can sell for tens of thousands. In some cases, a particularly large rhinoceros beetle has fetched millions of yen at auction.
Interest is on the rise, mainly due to three factors:
- Internet sales: Online marketplaces and specialist sites, such as E-Mushi and Rakuten listings, have made it easy to buy and sell insects nationwide.
- Events: Beetle fairs, often held in summer, attract collectors of all ages. Students and professionals alike bring their prized insects to sell, swap, or simply show off.
- COVID-19: The pandemic prompted many people to stay indoors and adopt low-maintenance hobbies. Beetles as clean, low-maintenance pets – and associated breeding – benefited.
The faces behind the beetles
One of the most visible figures in the field of Japanese beetle breeding is Professor Akio Ohara, founder of Beetle On Co., Ltd..
His company sells beetles, beetle food, and insect-themed goods, while promoting educational programs to pass on “the culture of insects” to younger generations.
Another leading figure is Kazuhide Kobayashi, a zoology graduate from the UK, who works on beetle taxonomy while also selling specimens.
Both breeders emphasise that insects aren’t just curiosities. They represent a blend of science, commerce, and cultural heritage.
Why beetles, specifically?
Rhinoceros and stag beetles hold a special place in Japanese culture. Children learn to raise them in elementary school projects, and insect battles where male beetles lock horns and push each other off logs remain a popular pastime.
Owning a rare or particularly large specimen confers status in collector circles, much like trading cards or koi fish.
Beetle breeding can also be seen in a broader context. As Japan continues to change economically and socially, alternative economies and niche hobbies are gaining traction.
While this might sound strange or like “weird Japan,” consider that capsule toys, or even Pokémon, started as oddities before evolving into industries that generate significant revenue.
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