May 27th Was World Otter Day, and Japanese Aquariums Brought it Online
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With everyone still reticent to leave their quarantines, Japanese Twitter exploded with great otter content.
Yesterday, Japanese netizens learned that the final Wednesday of May every year is World Otter Day, a day to celebrate these cute water-loving critters and learn a little more about them. River otters, especially Asian small-clawed otters, are a staple at Japanese aquariums, and since those same aquariums have been especially active on Twitter recently, it's no surprise that their many otter-themed posts were trending throughout the day. Japan's state of emergency ended earlier in the week, but many cautious residents are continuing to stay home and continue remote work after months of quarantine; the wave of adorable otter pictures and interesting otter facts was just the thing to cheer up everyone's mundane Wednesdays. So I've collected a few of the best posts here to cheer up your day, as well!
これで今年の #世界カワウソの日 はおしまいです
今日カワウソに興味が出たら、ぜひ「かわいい」の先に興味を広げてみてください。ペットとしてのカワウソではなく、野生動物としてのカワウソのほうが、きっとずっと魅力的ですよ。
この先もカワウソが幸せな時間を過ごせますように。#コツメカワウソ pic.twitter.com/tcjzSjydAm— 上野動物園［公式］ (@UenoZooGardens) May 27, 2020
While this was the final tweet of the day from Tokyo's popular Ueno Zoo, it set an important tone for Japan's celebrations of World Otter Day, writing:
Undeniably adorable, river otters have become increasingly popular as pets in Japan over the past few years, despite their endangered status and the difficulty of caring for them. As appealing as it might be to have an otter for a pet, most people just aren't prepared to meet their needs, so let's appreciate them from afar!
☆小爪カワウソ？☆
コツメカワウソは指先に小さな爪があることからこの名前がついています。
ちなみに、手のひら、足の裏には肉球があり、毛は生えてません。そのため、物などしっかり持つことができます。
餌も手探りで探して捕まえて食べます。 #世界カワウソの日 #コツメカワウソ pic.twitter.com/TGIVS5Qlrs— サンシャイン水族館 (@Sunshine_Aqua) May 27, 2020
A modern aquarium in the middle of Tokyo's busy Ikebukuro neighborhood, Sunshine Aquarium were sharing otter facts throughout the day, and focusing quite a bit on Japan's popular Asian small-clawed otters.
キーパーガイドの動画には出てきませんでしたが、ピースケも元気に暮らしています！
ちょうどお食事中の様子です。最後の動きにご注目！#世界カワウソの日#WorldOtterDay#コツメカワウソ #休園中の動物園水族館 pic.twitter.com/YNQXumSeX2
— 埼玉県こども動物自然公園【臨時休園】 (@saitamazoo_tw) May 27, 2020
In Japan you sometimes hear people tell you to avoid watching river otters eat if you want to still think they're cute. It's true, they look a little less innocent once you've seen them aggressively gobble down a fish or two. This otter at Saitama Children's Zoo is still pretty cute, though.
【仙台うみの杜水族館】#世界カワウソの日 なので中の人の元にも多くの動画・画像が届けられました！
ツメナシカワウソのかわいさをどんどん発信いたしましょう！#ツメナシカワウソ をじゃんじゃんRTさせていただきます！#s_uminomor pic.twitter.com/5IxER2dSqj— 仙台うみの杜水族館公式 (@sendaiuminomori) May 27, 2020
While Asian small-clawed otters reign supreme in Japan, some places like the Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium shared some other otter content. Behold: the wonderful schnoz of the African clawless otter.
１２時のツイートは、カワウソの顔に魅力を感じるあなたにお届けします。
目・鼻・耳が一直線に並んで上のほうについています。水面から少し顔を出すだけで、外の様子を見たり聞いた入り、呼吸もでき、水の生活に適しています。
正面顔も横顔も魅力的ですよね。#世界カワウソの日 #ユーラシアカワウソ pic.twitter.com/EVXoWAoB8l— 上野動物園［公式］ (@UenoZooGardens) May 27, 2020
Of course, Ueno Zoo then jumped in with a clip of their Eurasian otter as well.
Their eyes, nose, and ears are all lined up and upward-facing. Just by poking their heads slightly above the waterline, otters are able to see and hear how things are going out of the water and also take a breath, making them excellently suited to life in the water. Their faces are lovely from the front and in profile, aren't they?」
☆鳴き声でコミュニケーション？☆
コツメカワウソは鳴き声でコミュニケーションを取ります。十種類以上の鳴き声を使い分けていると言われています。
動画は餌をねだるカワウソの声です。
結構大きな鳴き声を出します。#世界カワウソの日 #コツメカワウソ pic.twitter.com/6tbgL4cwA4— サンシャイン水族館 (@Sunshine_Aqua) May 27, 2020
☆コツメカワウソは手先が器用で遊び好き？☆
コツメカワウソは手先が器用で、とても遊び好きです。
自然界でも小石や枝を使って遊ぶ姿が見られます。サンシャイン水族館のカワウソたちも器用に小石を転がして遊びます。#世界カワウソの日 #コツメカワウソ pic.twitter.com/nLP3XABxve— サンシャイン水族館 (@Sunshine_Aqua) May 27, 2020
１１時のツイートはカワウソの体形に魅力を感じるあなたにお届けします。
カワウソの体は細長く、扁平な頭という面白い特徴を持っています。この体形なら水の抵抗をあまり受けずに泳ぐことができます。
なめらかに泳ぐ姿は魅惑的で、ずっと見ていられますよね。#世界カワウソの日 #ユーラシアカワウソ pic.twitter.com/m5AzRwMr1d— 上野動物園［公式］ (@UenoZooGardens) May 27, 2020
☆コツメカワウソのために私たちにできることは？☆
コツメカワウソを絶滅させないために、私たちにできることは？
マイ箸を使って自然林を守ったり、マイバックを使ってプラスチックゴミを減らしたり、できることから行いましょう！#世界カワウソの日 #コツメカワウソ pic.twitter.com/lECv50Sqxh— サンシャイン水族館 (@Sunshine_Aqua) May 27, 2020
A peaceful finish to our brief look into World Otter Day by way of Japanese Twitter – Asian small-clawed otters love to nap together. If you still want more, you can always scroll through the many posts from the 27th by checking the Twitter hashtag #世界カワウソの日 (World Otter Day)! In the meantime, Sunshine Aquarium gave us a simple suggestion for how to help the world's otters in our everyday life: protect the forests and water the otters depend on by using reusable shopping bags and chopsticks. We can surely do more, but that's not a bad start!
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NAME:Aquariums Around Japan
Half a lifetime ago I came to Japan for a semester abroad... and I never left. I guess I really like the place! I spent my first few years in Japan living in the middle of nowhere, so I'd love to hear your Tokyo recommendations via Japankuru's social media accounts!
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NAGOYA
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Aichi Prefecture sits in the center of the Japanese islands, and its capital city, Nagoya, is a center of politics, commerce, and culture. While Aichi is home to major industry, and is even the birthplace of Toyota cars, it's proximity to the sea and the mountains means it's also a place with beautiful natural scenery, like Saku Island, Koijigahama Beach, Mt. Horaiji. Often used a stage for major battles in Japanese history, Sengoku era commanders like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu left their own footprints on Aichi, and historic buildings like Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle, and those in Meiji Mura are still around to tell the tale.
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NIIGATA
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Niigata is a prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu, situated right on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and abundant with the gifts of nature. It's known for popular ski resorts such as Echigo-Yuzawa, Japanese national parks, and natural hot spring baths, plus local products like fresh seafood, rice, and sake. Visitors often spend time in the prefectural capital, Niigata City, or venture across the water to Sado Island.
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SHIZUOKA
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Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.
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KANSAI
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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KYOTO
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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NARA
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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HIROSHIMA
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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