Nipponoluciola cruciata, known as "genji-botaru" (ゲンジボタル) in Japanese, is a species of firefly found in Japan.

Its habitat is small ditches and streams, and its larvae are aquatic.

[4] (Another, smaller firefly species, Aquatica lateralis, has the Japanese common name "heike-botaru", a possible reference to the Heike clan, the losers in the Genpei War).

The male's luminous organ occupies its sixth ventrite.

Its habitat is small ditches and streams, with mud or pebbles at the bottom.

[3] Larvae of Nipponoluciola cruciata are aquatic; unable to swim, they crawl at the bottom.

The male's flash pattern changes when it perches near a female, which emits single pulses.