Fukushima aquarium reopens after tsunami
Aquamarine Fukushima, an aquarium in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, reopened for business Friday for the first time since the March 11 quake and tsunami.
The aquarium named a recently-born harbor seal pup “Kibo (希望）,” the Japanese word for hope, at the reopening ceremony, which coincided with the facility’s 11th anniversary.
“The name represents how we all feel, and I really hope he grows up healthy and strong,” said Kazutoshi Arai, director of Kamogawa Seaworld in Chiba Prefecture where the pup was born on April 7.
The seal pup’s mother was transferred from Fukushima to Chiba following the March disaster, returning together with her pup late last month.
Many fish and marine animals at Aquamarine Fukushima died after the electricity supply failed due to the tsunami. Other aquariums including the Chiba facility took care of some of those that survived.
Aquamarine Fukushima is offering live music performances and free crab soup through Monday to mark the reopening.
An exhibit at the Aquamarine Fukushima Aquarium. Photo courtesy suneko
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