The recently opened ice rink was denounced for being “immoral” and “weird” and having “no soul,” among other remarks, some of them obscene, according to Space World’s Facebook page.
The Space World theme park in Kitakyushu came under fire after a segment on the ice rink, showing the frozen dead fish spelling out the word “Hello” and appearing to be swimming around a pillar, appeared on a local TV station, reports the Guardian.
Other parts of the ice rink featured enlarged pictures of rays, crabs, and whale sharks embedded in the ice. But CNN is reporting the use of about 5,000 dead sprats, mackerel, and other fish obtained from a local seafood market outraged people who voiced their fury at the park’s new attraction.
Most of the comments on Space World’s Facebook page were angry, with some comments bringing up Japan’s whaling for “scientific research.”
“This really makes me upset. Do you think children are happy to see this fish in skate rink?” Miura Tsubasa commented. “Add this to Japan’s treatment of whales (or “scientific research” as the Japanese government describes it),” said Billy Fackwit.
Biffy Ravenscroft commented: “Freezing animals for pleasure. Yes, this is also the nation that thinks that it’s OK to kill whales for “research”. What a bunch of dumb pricks. It’s about time that Japan joined us in the 21st Century.”
The manager of the theme park told reporters that staff members were shocked at the social media response, saying the attraction had received “unprecedented” popularity during the first two weeks after it opened.
The ice rink will be thawed and the dead fish turned into fertilizer. The park plans on having an appropriate “memorial service” soon. The ice rink, sans dead fish, will reopen sometime in December.
