Japanese crane in Hokkaido, Japan

© Regis Cavignaux/Getty Image

It's kickoff time. A crane for good luck in today’s big game

To celebrate this year’s Super Bowl, the annual championship game of America’s National Football League, we bring you this Japanese crane which looks like it’s getting into the spirit of things. Also known as the red-crowned crane, the species is among the rarest cranes in the world. It’s known in some cultures as a symbol of luck and longevity, making it an ideal sporting mascot. This particular crane seems to have a pretty good punting leg, to boot. Other animals that have served as good luck symbols around the world include the pig, the mandarin duck, and the albatross. Do you have a good luck charm?