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 Japan's social media accounts!
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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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