Japanese black ratsnake; black Japanese striped snake
A non-venomous snake native to Japan, Elaphe quadrivirgata. Often called 'Japanese black ratsnake' in English. The name literally means 'crow snake'.
See also: シマヘビ (しまへび)
The Japanese black ratsnake is a species endemic to Japan, with a black body and yellow stripes.
Katakana spelling is common for this animal name; usually written in kana.
Kanji form is rare and may not be widely recognized; the word is usually written in kana.
From 烏 (からす, 'crow') + 蛇 (へび, 'snake'), referring to its black coloration.