Unique ice aquarium in Kesennuma, Japan features over 450 specimens of marine life preserved in lifelike poses and illuminated with blue light.
Octopuses, crabs, and different kinds of fish appear to be swimming in ice. All visitors are required to wear protective suits because the temperature inside the aquarium is set to minus 20 degrees Celsius (-5F).
Also check out: iMac Aquariums and Telephone Booth Aquarium
Tri Ari Handoko
how to enjoy the fish, if its frozen? it is not moving..
Sep 12th, 2010
James Ward
Do I have to be the first with the sushi joke?
Sep 12th, 2010
Babak
While looking into the aquarium, I feel a deep yearning for these sea creatures to be alive, and to move around.
Maybe it could be a relief to see the so called artist or museum manager inside a similar ice cube!
Sep 12th, 2010
JZ
Am I the only one who’s wondering what would happen to that room if the power was cut off? It’s really beautiful, though.
Sep 12th, 2010
Nat
Were the animals killed just to be in there? If so, it’s awful! Even if not, I’d rather see them alive!
Sep 12th, 2010
azjz
This makes me so sad. What a complete waste.
Sep 12th, 2010
Bob
Gorgeous. Frozen in time.
Sep 12th, 2010
Art of Concept
I’d rather see them swim…I don’t see the point for this.
Sep 13th, 2010
Daniel
I don’t like this awful stuff!
Fishes are nice to see alive and swimming around!
As a rule (of a lot): If you dive, don’t touch. Take only pictures and leave only bubbles. Keep your fins, gear, and hands away from flora and fauna.
Sep 13th, 2010
chazzzz
weird, in a truly weird way … don’t know if I like it or not !!!! possibly a step to far for me.
Sep 13th, 2010
James
I still feel hurt for this, really, it make me sad. NOOOO!
Sep 13th, 2010
forumlogic
A warehouse of corpses!
Sep 13th, 2010
Stan
I hope this is not a glimpse of the future
Sep 13th, 2010
Michalexpromo
Well… for me it’s not a problem of dead or alive fish… I just don’t like the design.
Fish in water are always so pure to look at.
This looks like a designer fish market – nothing more.
Sep 13th, 2010
cindy
swim little fishies swim
Sep 13th, 2010
Deanna
Why would anyone want to see frozen fishes? What a waste of fossil fuels keeping that place running!
Sep 13th, 2010
Ty M.
Pretty cool; and probably a lot less maintenance than a real aquarium- no fish to feed!
Sep 13th, 2010
AJ
Leave it to the Japanese to do something with the oceans creatures that the rest of the world frowns upon. I guess if they call it “Art” or “Research” it is justified, right?
Sep 13th, 2010
Brightannica
they could probably do that for study or research purpose, not for commercially used or art. It’s so mean to froze them alive like that. Apparently a lot of big universities or institutions funding this kind of research/ art.
Sep 13th, 2010
Jacob
They don’t look very natural, it looks like trays were just frozen with some specimens from each species. which is apparently all they did. they look flat, with no interaction with the other specimens nor the space their incased it. Its interesting to look at but probably much more because of the novelty and less because of aesthetics, live aquarium definitely more dynamic to look at. they just look too dead.
certainly interesting, i just wouldn’t pay too much to get into the museum.
Sep 14th, 2010
Jack
Yet another example (of far too many) of the Japanese abusing the sea and the creatures in it. Sad.
Sep 15th, 2010
Muddy
These are the same people who kill whales in the Antartic for “research “. To me it’s just an upmarket seafood store .I have nothing against the eating of seafood but either leave them alive or take a photo. This is just a waste of life and you can’t tell me it’s part of the Japanese culture as you bleet in the Whaling Commission.
Sep 15th, 2010
Raads
I obviously dont like what has happened to the fish – but its happened, and theres nothing we can do about it. However, they would have made alot more money if they kept the fish alive, as
#1 I dont know alot of people who would freeze just to see a couple of frozen fish,
#2 It certainley gets boring after you’ve been there once or twice, whereas with a normal fish tank u can see the fish grow and develop,
#3 Certain people would take this idea and go a step too far.
omg, i sound too posh man :s :P
Sep 16th, 2010
Oza Boza
Even you’re not concerned about the ethic of exhibiting killed bodies of fishes, keeping them alive would cost less than keeping them frozen. Think about the power needed to run this showroom.
Sep 21st, 2010
ChEeSe
how are you suppoto enjoy them when they are so lifeless and boring? i would never go there it would just make me cry:[
Sep 21st, 2010
wtyang24
really, why this when you can go to a top notch (super)market for the same thing but in clearer image? babak, i like your idea of the artist/manager in ice idea though :D
Sep 25th, 2010
Wulf
Boring/cruel? for now, but when certain species die out in the future, you can always go back in the time and see how our seas looked like as how they do now.
Sep 27th, 2010
Altinay
How Cruel! I don’t like it at all!
Oct 24th, 2010
Ayoally
I think this is beautiful. but i don’t like how all those unique fish are now dead. it’s a glimce of the future.
Dec 7th, 2010
Scully
As someone who knows a little about industrial refridgeration, I can safely say that once that conrtolled temerature was reached, the power consumption would be comparable to keeping the room at any controlled temperature, provided there is adequate insulation.
Jan 7th, 2012
Julia
How sad.I mean how could you just freeze beautiful fish for “art” Fish are so much prettier when they are alive and swimming.
Dec 9th, 2013