In the winter forests of Hokkaido, an adorable animal offers a small prayer—. A photo of an Ezo momonga (Hokkaido flying squirrel) posted on social media has gone viral for being "too cute!"

I hope I get a cute girlfriend 🙏
#EzoMomonga

Photo from @hayakawa0622's post

With its eyes closed, this Ezo momonga looks like it's earnestly praying for something. Its adorable appearance, with its round body and tiny paws clasped together, has drawn warm comments on social media, such as "So cute," "What an incredible expression," and "Hope he finds a girlfriend."

Also Captured: A Playful Squirrel with a Dry Leaf

This photo was taken by nature photographer Tokuyuki Hayakawa. Ezo momongas are typically nocturnal, but during their breeding season, they can sometimes be seen during the day, as in this photo. He also captured other lively moments, such as one with snow around its mouth and another flying with a dry leaf in its mouth.

Mr. Hayakawa Photographs Hokkaido's Wildlife

Mr. Hayakawa is a photographer who primarily shoots wildlife in Hokkaido. "In winter, I focus on Ezo momongas, and from spring to summer, I put my energy into photographing orcas," he says. To photograph wild orcas, he travels from Sapporo to the seas of Rausu in Shiretoko, a journey that takes about 7 hours one way.

Mr. Hayakawa's X account, "Shiretoko Dream," features many posts showcasing animals living in Hokkaido's great outdoors. Why not experience the charm of Hokkaido through his photos of wildlife thriving in its rich nature?