Festive Kanji - Reflections on a Seven Faced Bird

[Jasper Sharp]

Not exactly relevant to the field of cinema, but something that I've been
pondering over for the past few days, since I established that no one in
Japan will actually be having turkey this Christmas.
The Japanese for 'turkey' is 'shichimenchou', a composite kanji meaning
7-faced bird. Can someone please explain to me why a turkey is known as a
7-faced bird in Japan? I assume that turkeys are not indigenous to Japan,
and so this name must be of fairly recent invention, unless imported from
the Chinese word.
Sorry if off topic, but I've no idea where else to turn. Every Japanese
person I've asked so far says they've never given the matter a second
thought .

Merry Christmas,

Jasper Sharp

Midnight Eye: The Latest and Best in Japanese Cinema
www.midnighteye.com