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| Aquarium on Ice, a Lure for Skaters in Japan, Appalls Them Instead | Aquarium on Ice, a Lure for Skaters in Japan, Appalls Them Instead |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| TOKYO — The Japanese are known around the world for turning fish into centerpieces of culinary art. But an amusement park’s recent effort to pair frozen fish and ice-skating proved less enduring. | TOKYO — The Japanese are known around the world for turning fish into centerpieces of culinary art. But an amusement park’s recent effort to pair frozen fish and ice-skating proved less enduring. |
| Two weeks ago, Space World, on the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu, opened an ice-skating rink that featured about 5,000 fish and other sea creatures frozen beneath the surface. | Two weeks ago, Space World, on the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu, opened an ice-skating rink that featured about 5,000 fish and other sea creatures frozen beneath the surface. |
| It was hard to quibble with the park for calling the rink “an unprecedented attraction.” | It was hard to quibble with the park for calling the rink “an unprecedented attraction.” |
| Yet rather than attracting more visitors, the Aquarium on Ice ended up alienating them. A public furor broke out on social media, with many accusing the amusement park of cruelty to animals. | Yet rather than attracting more visitors, the Aquarium on Ice ended up alienating them. A public furor broke out on social media, with many accusing the amusement park of cruelty to animals. |
| “Why do they do such a thing in such bad taste?” one commenter wrote on Facebook. “Playing on the dead fish in the ice is nothing but insanity,” wrote another. “Isn’t it a desecration of lives?” | |
| On Sunday, Space World apologized on its website, saying it would close the rink until further notice. | On Sunday, Space World apologized on its website, saying it would close the rink until further notice. |
| “We seriously take to heart a lot of various opinions, such as ‘you shouldn’t use these creatures for entertainment or events,’ or ‘poor fish,’ ” the announcement on the home page read. “We deeply apologize to all who had unpleasant feelings about the ice aquarium.” | |
| In an interview with NHK, the Japanese public broadcaster, Toshimi Takeda, the general manager of Space World, said, “We thought that we could provide an opportunity for visitors to enjoy ice-skating while learning about various kinds of fish.” | In an interview with NHK, the Japanese public broadcaster, Toshimi Takeda, the general manager of Space World, said, “We thought that we could provide an opportunity for visitors to enjoy ice-skating while learning about various kinds of fish.” |
| “We regret this terribly,” he added. | “We regret this terribly,” he added. |
| NHK reported that the park would melt the rink to remove the fish and planned to hold a memorial service for them. It may also use the dead sea creatures as fertilizer. | NHK reported that the park would melt the rink to remove the fish and planned to hold a memorial service for them. It may also use the dead sea creatures as fertilizer. |
| According to the Japanese news media, the fish, crabs and other shellfish were already dead when the amusement park bought them at a wholesale market. The park also placed photographs of larger fish, like whale sharks, under the ice. | According to the Japanese news media, the fish, crabs and other shellfish were already dead when the amusement park bought them at a wholesale market. The park also placed photographs of larger fish, like whale sharks, under the ice. |
| Not all visitors were appalled by the exhibit. | Not all visitors were appalled by the exhibit. |
| “What’s the difference between skating over the beautifully decorated rink with fish in the ice that are already dead and will only be thrown away, and visiting a museum to look at already dead dinosaurs, also beautifully decorated?” Oshita Ayano posted on Facebook. “I’m looking forward to the next plan.” | “What’s the difference between skating over the beautifully decorated rink with fish in the ice that are already dead and will only be thrown away, and visiting a museum to look at already dead dinosaurs, also beautifully decorated?” Oshita Ayano posted on Facebook. “I’m looking forward to the next plan.” |