
Moet particularly the fur seal was confused with the sea otter, an uncertainty 
which etill persists not only among the laity but among the fishermen, legislators, and 
even the etymologiste who should know better. for instance, a recent and authoritative 
Japanese-English dictionary 3/ gives the correct translation for "rakko" as sea otter,., 
but tranelates “‘rakko fune" as a sealing echooner and “rakko no kawea" as a seal ekint! 
Phie lack of distinction between the two species hae caused a great deal of misunderstand- 
ing and confusion among the Japanese themeelves, as well ae between the Japanese and other 
nationalities. 
That the better: informed Japaneses neverthsless recognized a distinction between 
the two animals long ago is attested by the separate names for them autochthonous in the 
language, frequently misapplied though they may be. “‘ERakko" is believed to have originated 
as a phonetic rendering of the aboriginal] Ainu name for the sea-otter, but the Kanji or 
Chinese characters by which it is represented were selected arbitrarily and have no pho- 
netic connection with it. The derivation of the word “ottosei", now the accepted name for 
the fur seal, is more uncertain. Both the word and the Chinese ideographe which have been 
adopted for it seem to have some reference to the anisals' genitalia and probably stem fron 
the medieval utilisation of the seal's sex organs for medicinal purposes. 
The fur of the sea otter was highly valued in medieval Japan. Early records re- 
port that three “rakko" skins were presented to the Toyotomi Shogun in 1593 by Keiko Kaki- 
saki, the feudal lord (Daimyo) of Fukuyama castle at Matsumaec, Hokkaido, and the Matsumae 
Daimyos subsequently used otter skinn as suitable annual gifts to their overlords, the 
Tokugawa Shogune in Yedo. But a similar high regard never wae held in medieval times for 
the comparatively inferior fur of the fur seal. The Japanese then were concerned with the 
"“ottosel" primarily as the source of *takeri", or "Kaikujin®, an ancient aphrodisiac of 
doubtful therapeutic efficacy made from its dried penis and testicles (Figure 2). 
The earliest known Japanese description of the fur seal was written in 1697 by one 
Hirano, of whom biographical details are lacking. Judging from his sketchy account Hirano 
probably never saw a seal, and his information presumably was second or third hand. WNever- 
theless, he has comparatively little fancy and considerable truth in his narrative (Bibl 1): 
y z Ri) ay Bp. a a Figure 2. - Early dravw- 
y . ing of "takeri", from Esoto 
i a om *: 5 ¥ _Kikan Hochu (Bibl 8). The 
ow a, ¥ inscription states: *Kai- 
kujin is non-venomous vhen 
. 4 
wv 
a 
’ 
a0 
y 
” 
salted and roasted in high 
heat. Medicine: If this 
is steeped in sake for one 
day and baked in a paper 
bag, it has a pleasant odor. 
Break it into pieces or in- 
fuse it in sake ina silver 
pot and miz it with other 
medicines when hot. Jichin 
a Chinese authority states 
that if thie be preserved 
in pepper and camphor it 
will not break. This medi- 
cine is especially good for 
man's chronic ca*buncles, 
cricks, bad colds, weak 
kidneys, low spirits, and 
exhaustion after lustful 
behavior.” 
ON i BS eS 
hice oan 
t 
i 
By 
ye 
BK, 
¥ 
~+ 
Zt 
i late aka: 
x 
= 

3/ Kenkyusha, 1949 ed, Tokyo, p 1487. 
