Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle - Popular Culture

Popular Culture

Japanese rhinoceros beetles are very popular in anime, tokusatsu, advertisements, televisions, and films in Japan, including:

• Digimon (Kabuterimon and many of its evolutions)
• Juken Sentai Gekiranger/Power Rangers: Jungle Fury
• Kamen Rider Stronger, Kamen Rider Blade, Kamen Rider Kabuto
• Medabots
• Megalon, of Godzilla vs. Megalon
• Mushiking: King of the Beetles
• Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger/Power Rangers: Ninja Storm
• Pokémon (Heracross)
• Samurai Champloo
• Seijuu Sentai Gingaman/Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy
• The Transformers Insecticons, Bombshell and Barrage
• The Beast Wars Predacon, Ram Horn and the Maximal, Motorarm
• Samurai Sentai Shinkenger/Power Rangers: Samurai
• Tensou Sentai Goseiger/Power Rangers Megaforce
• Chouseishin Gransazer
• Juukou B-Fighter/Big Bad Beetleborgs
• B-Fighter Kabuto/Beetleborgs Metallix
• B-Robo Kabutack
• Yu-Gi-Oh!
• Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
• Sgt. Frog
• This Ugly Yet Beautiful World
• Sonic CD
• Time Bokan
• One Piece (Heracles, Sogeking's Atlas Suisei, and Boss)
• Naruto (Chomei)
• Hajime No Ippo
• Mega Man X3 (Gravity Beetle)
• Animal Crossing (called "dynastid beetle in the English translation of the game, derived from the subfamily "dynastinæ")
• Ben 10: Ultimate Alien/Ben 10 Omniverse (called "Eatle")

The Japanese rhinoceros beetle is popular in complex origami, known as the Samurai helmet beetle.

The pairing of the Japanese rhinoceros beetle with the stag beetle is also popular.

Often, they are linked to the element of lightning. It is probably due to their horns somewhat resembling a lightning rod.

The Monster Rancher series also includes a giant rhinoceros beetle called Beaclon. This monster is reported to be high in physical strength but low in intelligence.