In southwestern Japan, a sunfish residing in a local aquarium recently faced some troubling health issues. Shortly after the facility closed for renovations last month, the fish stopped eating, began to swim against the walls of its tank, and exhibited signs of distress. To revive the creature’s spirits, the aquarium staff turned to a unique solution: they displayed their uniforms outside the tank and set up life-sized human cutouts.
The following day, the sunfish surprisingly consumed food for the first time in nearly a week, and it has since shown consistent improvement, according to Moe Miyazawa, an aquarist working at the Kaikyokan aquarium in Shimonoseki.
This particular sunfish, known for its distinctive shape and large eyes, has been a fixture at the aquarium since its arrival in February 2024 from Kochi, located on the southern coast of Japan’s Pacific Ocean. It quickly became a beloved attraction within the facility.
As the aquarium underwent its renovations starting December 1 for six months, the sunfish’s health deteriorated. The animal’s keepers initially suspected digestive issues and attempted to alleviate the situation by reducing its food intake while also trying to soothe the fish during construction disturbances. Unfortunately, these efforts did not yield any positive results.
During a subsequent staff meeting, an employee proposed that the sunfish might be struggling with the sudden lack of human interaction. “We were doubtful, but we felt we should try anything we could,” explained Miyazawa. They then proceeded to hang their uniforms on the tank and placed cutouts of humans featuring smiling faces outside, hoping it would lift the fish’s mood.
Miyazawa expressed his surprise when the sunfish responded positively the next morning. “I realized the fish was watching us as we put up the cutouts, but I never expected it to start eating right away,” he remarked with a smile. Now, staff members are making a point to visit more frequently, waving at the sunfish as part of their ongoing care routine.
The aquarium staff eagerly anticipates that many of the sunfish’s fans will come back to visit once the facility reopens in the summer. They remain optimistic about the future of their aquatic companion as renovations continue.
