The theme park Space World, which is located in the
city of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, closed their skating rink on November
27th after receiving harsh criticism about their decision to freeze about 5,000
actual sea creatures into the ice of their skating rink as part of a special
event.
city of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, closed their skating rink on November
27th after receiving harsh criticism about their decision to freeze about 5,000
actual sea creatures into the ice of their skating rink as part of a special
event.
The event was called the “Ice Aquarium” and was advertised
as a way for park visitors to “feel like they are skating on the surface of the
ocean.” On their official website, Space World called it “unprecedented” and saird
it was ‘A first in the history of Japan. No, a first in the history of the
world.”
as a way for park visitors to “feel like they are skating on the surface of the
ocean.” On their official website, Space World called it “unprecedented” and saird
it was ‘A first in the history of Japan. No, a first in the history of the
world.”
The attraction featured 25 different varieties of sea
creatures all obtained from a local fish market. Although a variety of
different fish species were used the attraction also featured crabs and even
pictures of larger sea creatures like whale sharks and rays, all of which were
frozen in the ice of the skating rink.
creatures all obtained from a local fish market. Although a variety of
different fish species were used the attraction also featured crabs and even
pictures of larger sea creatures like whale sharks and rays, all of which were
frozen in the ice of the skating rink.
Though much of the criticism the park received was directed at the attraction itself, the park also received criticism for posting pictures
of the fish to their Facebook page with strange captions like “I’m d- d- drowning!
I’m in a- a- agony.” and “I can’t breathe anymore!”
of the fish to their Facebook page with strange captions like “I’m d- d- drowning!
I’m in a- a- agony.” and “I can’t breathe anymore!”
After the skating rink opened on November 12th people on
social media began complaining about fish heads sticking out of the ice, ice
skates cutting into the ice and making contact with the fish and fish blood
that had frozen into the ice. Many also complained about the bizarre and
disrespectful nature of the attraction. After noticing this backlash the park
apologized, noting that the event caused “discomfort” and was “inappropriate.”
social media began complaining about fish heads sticking out of the ice, ice
skates cutting into the ice and making contact with the fish and fish blood
that had frozen into the ice. Many also complained about the bizarre and
disrespectful nature of the attraction. After noticing this backlash the park
apologized, noting that the event caused “discomfort” and was “inappropriate.”
Now that the skating rink has been closed work has begun on the removal of the sea
creatures from the ice. NHK is reporting that the fish will receive funerary
services and that they will be used as fertilizer. The park is planning to
reopen the skating rink fish-free in late December.
While the concept that the park was going for was
certainly unique it seems they really didn’t plan this whole thing very well. The
use of real fish seems rather unhygienic and I can’t help but imagine that the
place had to smell at least a little fishy. It’s probably smelling pretty
horrible right now since they have to melt the ice in order to get all those
dead fish out of there. They should’ve just gone with pictures and fake fish.
That way they would’ve avoided this whole fiasco. Plus, had the fish been fake
then they could’ve made all the strange jokes they wanted on Facebook page and nobody
would have cared.
certainly unique it seems they really didn’t plan this whole thing very well. The
use of real fish seems rather unhygienic and I can’t help but imagine that the
place had to smell at least a little fishy. It’s probably smelling pretty
horrible right now since they have to melt the ice in order to get all those
dead fish out of there. They should’ve just gone with pictures and fake fish.
That way they would’ve avoided this whole fiasco. Plus, had the fish been fake
then they could’ve made all the strange jokes they wanted on Facebook page and nobody
would have cared.
Here is a report NHK did on this story.
Source: Yahoo News Japan, BIGLOBE, NHK
