JAPAN: Sea lions that write, penguins in costume, and kimono divers are star attractions at Japanese aquarium

Record ID: 464552

  • Title: JAPAN: Sea lions that write, penguins in costume, and kimono divers are star attractions at Japanese aquarium
  • Date: 3rd January 2010
  • Summary: YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (JANUARY 02, 2010) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE OF YOKOHAMA SEA PARADISE SEA LIONS WALKING ONTO STAGE AUDIENCE WATCHING SEA LIONS SEA LION GRABBING BRUSH SEA LION BEING SHOWN WHAT TO DRAW TRAINER SHOWING SEA LION WHAT TO WRITE SEA LION WRITING WITH BRUSH IN MOUTH SEA LION DRAWING CHINESE CHARACTER FOR "TIGER" "TIGER" WRITTEN IN CHINESE CHARACTERS (SOUNDBIT
  • Embargoed: 18th January 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA1WGMEFFLYKQ1QN6P7BGYIGCU8
  • Story Text: Sea animals and staff at an aquarium in Japan celebrated the new year on Saturday (January 02) with a Japanese twist.
    One sea lion resident wowed the crowd when, with a little help from a trainer, it wrote the chinese character for "Tiger", the symbol of 2010. The feat netted the sea lions a round of fish to celebrate.
    "I was amazed that the animals were able write characters so well," nine-year-old Manaka said.
    The adults were also impressed.
    "I was impressed that were trained to the point of being able to write the character for 'Tiger'," said 38-year-old Mamoru Toda.
    Penguins also got in on the New Year act, when they rode in on a custom made boat fashioned to look like one described in Japanese traditional stories.
    Six of the penguins were outfitted in their own special costumes, with the chinese character for "Happiness" written on their chests.
    Not to be left out, the aquarium's white whales also joined in the celebrations, pushing two divers fully outfitted in traditional Japanese kimonos around the indoor aquarium show tank.
    The celebrations have been held at the Sea Paradise aquarium since 2004.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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