Tokyo’s Remarkable Victory Over Its Winged Menace
Tokyo has achieved what once seemed impossible, bringing its notorious crow population down to just 20% of its peak numbers. The aggressive birds that once terrorized residents, scattered garbage across streets, and even caused blackouts have been successfully controlled through decades of targeted measures. Recent surveys reveal that the crow population in Japan’s bustling capital has plummeted from approximately 18,658 in 2000 to just 2,987 in December 2025, marking an 84% decrease according to the Urban-Bird Society of Japan’s fixed-point surveys.
For Tokyo residents who lived through the height of the crow crisis in the early 2000s, this transformation represents a significant improvement in daily life. The city’s streets are cleaner, outdoor dining is more peaceful, and residents can walk through parks without fear of being dive-bombed by the large, intelligent birds. This success story offers valuable lessons in urban wildlife management and demonstrates how persistent, coordinated efforts can resolve complex ecological challenges in metropolitan environments.
When Crows Ruled Tokyo’s Streets
The crow problem in Tokyo developed gradually but became impossible to ignore by the late 1990s and early 2000s. These weren’t ordinary birds, but large jungle crows with wingspans reaching up to a yard, possessing remarkable intelligence and aggressive behavior. They formed social groups throughout central Tokyo, feeding primarily on food waste generated by the city’s entertainment districts and restaurants.
The damage caused by these birds extended far beyond mere nuisance. Crows scattered garbage across city streets, creating unsanitary conditions and unpleasant odors. More alarmingly, they attacked residents, with many people reporting being pecked from behind while walking. The psychological impact was significant, with some residents developing genuine fear of the birds. Yumiko Kono, a blind long-distance runner who runs in Yoyogi Park, described a traumatic encounter when a crow landed on her head.
“A crow landed on my head just for an instant while I was running. It was like it was using my head as a jumping board. I was surprised, then scared. Now, when I hear crows cawing and their wings flapping, I still get scared.”
Afterward, the sound of cawing and flapping wings triggered fear responses that affected her daily exercise routine. The technological infrastructure of one of the world’s most modern cities also fell victim to the crow invasion. The birds built nests in utility poles, causing blackouts across neighborhoods. They demonstrated surprising ingenuity by stealing fiber-optic cables to construct their nests, sometimes disabling parts of the broadband network. Kyushu Electric Power even established a dedicated “Crow Patrol” to combat nests that caused power outages. In one incident, a single crow stuck its beak into a high-voltage power line, cutting electricity to 610 homes and businesses for nearly an hour.
The Economic Catalyst
The explosion in Tokyo’s crow population didn’t happen in isolation. Between 1985 and 2000, Japan experienced economic growth that transformed consumption patterns and waste generation. Large amounts of food waste became readily available in entertainment districts and areas around Tokyo Bay. According to records from Tokyo’s cleaning and waste disposal services, waste collection in the city’s 23 wards jumped from 3.97 million tons in fiscal 1985 to approximately 4.8 million tons in fiscal 1990, a nearly 20% increase.
Ichiro Ozeki, who runs a variety store in Tokyo’s Ginza district, recalled the severity of the problem during that era.
“Garbage bags generated by restaurants and other establishments were raided by the birds every morning. They would scatter leftovers all over the roads, making it difficult for people to get around on foot.”
This abundance of easily accessible food created ideal conditions for crows to thrive and reproduce rapidly.
A Multi-Faceted Battle Plan
Recognizing the severity of the situation, Tokyo’s government launched comprehensive countermeasures in 2001 under the leadership of Governor Shintaro Ishihara. The governor’s personal commitment to addressing the issue reportedly intensified after a crow buzzed his head while he was playing golf. His administration developed a systematic approach combining waste management reform, direct population control, and habitat modification.
The strategy focused on making Tokyo less hospitable to crows by eliminating their food sources and breeding opportunities. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government installed nets at garbage collection sites to prevent birds from accessing waste. They deployed large cages for trapping crows, with some measuring approximately 10 by 20 feet. These traps featured an opening that allowed birds to enter, while hanging spikes prevented escape. Every three days, trapped crows were removed and euthanized using carbon monoxide gas.
Waste management underwent significant transformation as part of the anti-crow initiative. Municipalities began collecting garbage in the early morning hours, around 2 a.m., to reduce the time food waste sat on streets. Suginami Ward introduced opaque yellow garbage bags designed to conceal food waste from the birds. Some companies developed trash bags coated with spicy substances that crows found unpalatable, though the birds eventually adapted to this deterrent.
Measuring Success
The Urban-Bird Society of Japan has conducted scientific surveys every five years since 1985 to track crow populations at three major roosts: Meiji Jingu shrine in Shibuya Ward, Toshimagaoka Cemetery in Bunkyo Ward, and the National Museum of Nature and Science’s Institute for Nature Study in Minato Ward. These systematic counts provided reliable data to evaluate the effectiveness of control measures.
The results have been dramatic. The ninth survey conducted in mid-December 2025 found only 2,987 crows at these locations, compared to 18,658 during the peak in 2000. Separate surveys by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed this trend, showing the population had dropped to just 20% of the peak recorded in fiscal 2001. By fiscal 2020, government estimates placed the crow population at approximately 11,000, representing nearly a 70% decrease from initial tallies.
The Waste Connection
The reduction in Tokyo’s crow population closely correlates with another positive development: significant reduction in garbage generation. As Japan’s economy adjusted after the bursting of its economic bubble, and as the government implemented garbage fees for businesses, the volume of waste decreased substantially. Tokyo’s 23 wards generated 3.52 million metric tons of garbage in fiscal 2001, but this figure dropped to 2.45 million tons in fiscal 2024.
Koichi Karasawa from the Urban-Bird Society explained this connection clearly.
“As a result of economic growth, large volumes of food waste were placed on central Tokyo roadsides for collection as garbage. Since crows were able to eat as much as they liked, they grew in number.”
As waste management improved and food became less accessible, the crow population naturally declined. The impact on quality of life has been measurable in concrete ways. Complaints and consultations regarding crows dropped from thousands annually during the peak crisis years to just 293 in fiscal 2024. This figure represents less than one-tenth of the complaints recorded in fiscal 2001. With fewer crows, damage to property and infrastructure has also decreased significantly.
Unexpected Ecological Benefits
Perhaps the most surprising outcome of Tokyo’s crow control efforts has been the positive effect on other bird species. Crows are known to prey on the chicks and eggs of smaller birds and destroy their nests. Their dominance in the urban ecosystem had suppressed populations of other avian species. As crow numbers have declined, a remarkable recovery of biodiversity has occurred.
The forests of the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo have become a haven for rare wild birds. Surveys conducted by the National Museum of Nature and Science have confirmed the presence of goshawk and owl chicks, species that rarely breed in the same location. Isao Nishiumi, head of the bird survey team and a senior researcher at the museum, attributed this increase directly to reduced crow numbers.
“We’ve been able to prove that several carnivorous bird species breed at the Imperial Palace and the Akasaka Estate. The corvids often prey on chicks and eggs and destroy nests.”
With crows less prevalent, smaller birds like long-tailed tits, Japanese bush warblers, and narcissus flycatchers have returned to central Tokyo in greater numbers. A wild-bird distribution survey from 2016 to 2021 logged 374 long-tailed tits at 83 locations compared to just 98 at 25 locations three decades earlier.
Environmental Trade-offs
However, some experts caution against eliminating crows entirely. These birds perform important ecological functions, including consuming small animal carcasses and disseminating plant seeds through their droppings. Without these natural services, Tokyo could face different environmental challenges, including unsanitary road conditions and changes in the local ecosystem.
Hajime Matsubara, a project associate professor at the University of Tokyo University Museum who has studied crows for over 20 years, offered a balanced perspective.
“If people unrestrainedly generate large amounts of waste, then crows will swell in number. But if people dispose of garbage with decorum, then the bird will wane. It could be said that crows are at the mercy of human behavior.”
Strategies for Long-term Balance
Public opinion on crow control measures has evolved alongside the birds’ changing fortunes. Studies of urban wildlife management reveal that while most people recognize the problems caused by excessive crow populations, they prefer non-invasive control methods. Many Tokyo residents initially opposed lethal control measures, expressing sympathy for the intelligent birds.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government acknowledges that the current balance may not be permanent. A government official stated the following.
“The population has returned to an appropriate level like before the birds became a social problem. But given the possibility of another increase, countermeasures will continue.”
This vigilance ensures that the hard-won progress of the past two decades won’t be easily reversed.
Key Points
- Tokyo’s crow population has decreased by 84% since its peak in 2000, dropping from approximately 18,658 to 2,987 according to 2025 surveys
- Control measures implemented since 2001 included garbage nets, crow traps, early morning waste collection, and opaque garbage bags
- The reduction in crows correlates with decreased waste generation, which fell from 3.52 million tons in fiscal 2001 to 2.45 million tons in fiscal 2024
- Complaints about crows dropped to less than one-tenth of peak levels, with only 293 reported in fiscal 2024
- The decline in crows has benefited other bird species, with goshawks, owls, and various songbirds returning to central Tokyo
- Experts caution that maintaining reduced crow numbers requires ongoing waste management and vigilance
