"A 'Human' exhibit on April 1st? Seriously?" -- That was the headline in the magazine "R25". Yes, seriously. In fact, it's an annual event.

Last year, director Sugaya was exhibited at the monkey enclosure, but this year it was at the penguin pond. Although it was advertised as a human exhibit, a special edition newspaper was distributed with the headline "Great Discovery of a Great Japanese Penguin!" director Komiya made an appearance in a penguin costume.

Last year, when the director was put on display at the monkey enclosure, the monkeys ran away, but the penguins seemed calm even when an unfamiliar person in a costume entered the exhibit area. These King Penguin were raised at Adventure World in Wakayama, and perhaps because they are used to humans, they looked at the "giant penguins" with interest and even came closer.

Midway through, director Komiya removed the head of his costume and greeted the visitors. He also answered questions from the audience gathered at the penguin pond. To the question, "Why can't penguins fly?", he explained, "They can 'fly' in the water using their wings," while flapping the wings of the costume he was wearing. We were surprised when the penguins followed the costumed zookeeper as he left.

The "Great Magpie Penguin" that emerged from the penguin pond was being touched all over by the children, but director, who was cradling a child in his wings, was acting just like a penguin, saying, "This is how penguins hold their babies."

We've received emails from newsletter subscribers who couldn't come to see the director, asking us to feature the Japanese pond penguins on "Tokyo Zoo Net BB"! We'll be posting a video soon. Stay tuned!

*Note: All King Penguin from Ueno Zoo were moved to Tokyo Sea Life Park in 2010.

Page 6 of the above-mentioned "R25" (published every Thursday) contains a photo of director in a mascot costume, taken as part of a special rehearsal. Distribution locations and other information can be found here.

・Photo above: director emerges from inside the costume.
• Photo below: King Penguin following a person in a costume

(April 1, 2005)