The crow in our logo represents adaptability, intelligence, curiosity, and resourcefulness—qualities that reflect the spirit of Linc Books.
Crows thrive in remarkably diverse environments, from rural landscapes to densely populated cities. They are also known for their problem-solving abilities, learning capacity, and creative use of tools.
At Linc Books, we value these same qualities. We explore ideas across languages, disciplines, and cultures, adapting them for new audiences while respecting their original context. Whether we are working with research, educational materials, literature, or cultural content, our aim is to create connections and make ideas accessible beyond their original boundaries.
Like the crow, we are curious, adaptable, and comfortable crossing boundaries.
The crow occupies a revered place in Japanese mythology and folklore. The imperial lineage in Japan, extending over 2,600 years from Emperor Jimmu’s traditional accession in 660 BCE to the present Emperor Naruhito, underscores this reverence. Emperor Jimmu, the mythical first Emperor of Japan and a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu, is celebrated for his successful Eastern Expedition which subdued Yamato, around present-day Nara, under the guidance of a divine crow sent from heaven.
Recorded in the “Kojiki,” Japan’s oldest existing chronicle, and the “Nihon Shoki,”a subsequent, more detailed record of Japanese history, these texts detail Jimmu’s initial positioning in Takachiho, present-day Miyazaki Prefecture in Kyushu. This area, also known as Hyūga, is of significant mythological and historical importance. From this strategic location, Jimmu embarked on his eastern expedition.
After crossing the Seto Inland Sea, Jimmu navigated from Naniwa, traveled up the Yodo River through Kawachi, and headed toward Yamato. However, he faced strong resistance from a local clan leader, forcing him to retreat. Interpreting this setback as a consequence of combating against the direction of the sun—a symbolic misalignment for a descendant of the sun goddess—Jimmu took a southern detour around the Kii Peninsula, aiming to approach Yamato from the north via Kumano, the area including present-day Mie, Wakayama, and Nara Prefecture.
Upon their arrival in Kumano, Jimmu and his army were struck unconscious, likely overwhelmed by the region’s sacred spiritual energies. At this critical juncture, a local man, guided by divine instruction, presented Jimmu with a celestial sword. This sword, imbued with the power to quell the surrounding tumultuous spirits, revived Jimmu and his troops.
Instructed to follow the divine crow Yatagarasu, Jimmu navigated through the deep mountains of Kumano to reach the Yoshino River’s upper reaches. This guidance proved pivotal, as the crow and the celestial sword’s power enabled Jimmu to consolidate control over the land and fortify his rule, achieving his goal of unifying the region. Renowned as a divine messenger from heaven, the crow that guided Emperor Jimmu holds a sacred place in Japanese culture, symbolizing guidance and triumph.
Indeed, Yatagarasu, the divine crow, is venerated at Kumano Nachi Taisha, a significant Shinto shrine located in Wakayama Prefecture, as a guardian deity for traffic and maritime safety. Additionally, many visitors are drawn to this shrine to admire the natural beauty of Nachi Falls and to pray for longevity and protection from disasters.
This ancient story of guidance resonates with the mission of Linc Books: to help ideas, knowledge, writing, and stories travel across languages and cultures, opening paths between Japan and the wider world.
In Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore, ravens hold a special place, symbolizing wisdom and divine communication. Odin, the chief god of the Norse pantheon, is frequently depicted with two ravens named Huginn, representing “thought,” and Muninn, representing “memory,” perched on his shoulders. These ravens are said to have contributed significantly to Odin achieving his status of all-seeing knowledge and wisdom. Each day, they fly out into the world and return to Odin, bringing him information and knowledge and serving as his eyes and ears across the world.
As embodiments of Odin’s wisdom and protection, ravens are commonly depicted on Viking longships, armor, and banners, serving to invoke Odin’s power and insight to safeguard warriors in battle.
As symbols of thought, memory, knowledge, and wisdom, crows and ravens occupy distinctive places in the mythologies of different cultures. These traditions resonate with our mission at Linc Books: to connect ideas, knowledge, writing, and stories across languages and cultures, and to help them travel between Japan and the wider world.
Crows hold significant places in the traditional stories and cultural traditions of several Indigenous peoples of North America, where they may be associated with intelligence, transformation, creation, or the transmission of knowledge. These traditions, like the Japanese story of Yatagarasu, offer diverse examples of the crow as a powerful figure that connects the human world with forces beyond it.
In Tlingit traditions, the Crow is associated with the creation of the world and with the release of the sun. In Haida traditions, Raven plays a central role in a story about bringing the sun to the people. These stories reflect the importance of birds as powerful agents of transformation and change.
Another well-known story is the tale of Rainbow Crow, in which a crow brings fire to the people during a time of extreme cold. In the process, the crow sacrifices the beauty of its feathers and the sweetness of its voice, becoming a symbol of courage, generosity, and self-sacrifice.
These traditions differ in their details and cultural meanings, yet they share a striking theme: the crow or raven can serve as a figure that carries something valuable from one realm to another—light, knowledge, warmth, or transformation. This resonates with the mission of Linc Books: to help ideas, knowledge, writing, and stories travel across languages and cultures, opening paths between Japan and the wider world.
Like the crow, a figure associated across cultures with intelligence, adaptability, curiosity, and transformation, Linc Books seeks to connect ideas, writing, and people across languages and cultures.
Our mission is to publish books and educational materials that open new perspectives, encourage thoughtful exploration, and make knowledge and stories accessible to readers beyond their original cultural and linguistic boundaries.
Crows inspire us through their ability to navigate diverse environments, learn from the world around them, and connect different places and perspectives. At Linc Books, we embrace these qualities by working across disciplines and cultures—from research communication and academic writing to literature and cultural storytelling.
Through our publications, we hope to create connections that foster understanding, curiosity, and meaningful exchange. Whether sharing research, educational ideas, literary voices, or stories rooted in Japanese culture, we seek to help ideas and stories travel between Japan and the wider world.
