Tama-chan
Encyclopedia
is the name given to a male Bearded Seal
which was first spotted on August 7, 2002 near Maruko Bridge on Tama River
in Tokyo
, Japan
, and subsequently became a national celebrity in Japan.
Tama-chan subsequently moved to rivers in nearby central Yokohama
where he was a regular sight in Tsurumi
and Katabira Rivers for the following months. Thousands gathered on bridges in the city daily to catch a glimpse of the celebrity animal. Merchandise went on sale and fan clubs were organised, and daily updates on Tama-chan were broadcast on TV.
Yokohama's Nishi Ward
even granted an honorary jūminhyō
(residency registration) to Tama-chan. This prompted a group of foreign residents protesting against the fact that jūminhyō is only open to Japanese citizens (foreign nationals are registered under a separate system), to stage a march with whiskers drawn on their faces to demand a jūminhyō even though Saitama Prefecture has given fictional jūminhyō to public fixtures before either real or imaginary, such as Crayon Shin-Chan
.
called Pana-Wave Laboratory
which was revealed to be behind this group, pseudoscientifically
thought that electromagnetic waves led the seal astray, and also that returning the seal to arctic waters would somehow "save the world from destruction
". The cult had even built two swimming pools to keep the animal until it could be transferred.
The (illegal) attempt failed. Tama-chan disappeared out of sight a few days later. When Tama-chan reappeared in Naka-gawa River in Tokyo
, with a fishing hook embedded in the right eyebrow, it made national headline news, and Japan's Environment Minister was asked questions as to the well-being of the animal.
. Attention from the media, not to mention Pana Wave Laboratory, has now faded, and the crowds have been reduced to a handful of Tama-chan watchers and amateur photographers. Signs in the vicinity warn people that anyone attempting to capture or harm the animal would be prosecuted, and that the river bank is under CCTV
surveillance.
Despite this, the last confirmed sighting occurred on April 12, 2004.
Bearded Seal
The bearded seal , also called the square flipper seal, is a medium-sized pinniped that is found in and near to the Arctic Ocean. It gets its generic name from two Greek words that refer to its heavy jaw...
which was first spotted on August 7, 2002 near Maruko Bridge on Tama River
Tama River
The is a major river in Yamanashi, Kanagawa and Tokyo Prefectures on Honshū, Japan. It is officially classified as a Class 1 river by the Japanese government....
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and subsequently became a national celebrity in Japan.
Name
Tama-chan is named after the river (Tama) where he was first sighted. Strictly speaking, Tama is the actual name of the seal, and the -chan suffix is a Japanese title (similar to -san) which marks endearment and/or cuteness.Sightings
The first sighting of the seal was reported heavily in the Japanese media amid speculation as to whether the normally arctic seal could survive in a Tokyo river during summertime. Subsequent sightings generated massive publicity as huge crowds gathered to watch and TV crews broadcast live footage across Japan.Tama-chan subsequently moved to rivers in nearby central Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
where he was a regular sight in Tsurumi
Tsurumi River
The is a river in Kanagawa and Tokyo Prefectures on Honshū, Japan.-External links:...
and Katabira Rivers for the following months. Thousands gathered on bridges in the city daily to catch a glimpse of the celebrity animal. Merchandise went on sale and fan clubs were organised, and daily updates on Tama-chan were broadcast on TV.
Yokohama's Nishi Ward
Nishi-ku, Yokohama
is one of the 18 wards of the city of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the ward had an estimated population of 93,027 and a density of 13,210 persons per km². The total area was 7.04 km².-Geography:...
even granted an honorary jūminhyō
Juminhyo
A is a registry of current residential addresses maintained by local governments in Japan. Japanese law requires each citizen to report his or her current address to the local authorities who compile the information for tax, national health insurance and census purposes.The jūminhyō is different...
(residency registration) to Tama-chan. This prompted a group of foreign residents protesting against the fact that jūminhyō is only open to Japanese citizens (foreign nationals are registered under a separate system), to stage a march with whiskers drawn on their faces to demand a jūminhyō even though Saitama Prefecture has given fictional jūminhyō to public fixtures before either real or imaginary, such as Crayon Shin-Chan
Crayon Shin-chan
is a Japanese manga and anime series written by Yoshito Usui.Crayon Shin-chan follows the adventures of five-year-old Shinnosuke "Shin" Nohara and his parents, baby sister, neighbors, and friends and is set in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan....
.
Attempted capture
In March 2003, a group calling themselves "Society That Thinks About Tama-chan", attempted to capture Tama-chan with fishing nets in order to send it back to arctic waters with the help of a little-known US-based group called "Marine Animals Lifeline". A doomsday cultDoomsday cult
Doomsday cult is an expression used to describe groups who believe in Apocalypticism and Millenarianism, and can refer both to groups that prophesy catastrophe and destruction, and to those that attempt to bring it about...
called Pana-Wave Laboratory
Pana Wave
The Pana-Wave Laboratory is a Japanese religious group. Estimates of membership range from several hundred to 1,200.- Origin :Pana-Wave is an offshoot of a religious group called Chino-Shoho based in Shibuya, Tokyo, founded by a woman called Yuko Chino in 1977 and combining elements of...
which was revealed to be behind this group, pseudoscientifically
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
thought that electromagnetic waves led the seal astray, and also that returning the seal to arctic waters would somehow "save the world from destruction
Doomsday event
A doomsday event is a specific, plausibly verifiable or hypothetical occurrence which has an exceptionally destructive effect on the human race...
". The cult had even built two swimming pools to keep the animal until it could be transferred.
The (illegal) attempt failed. Tama-chan disappeared out of sight a few days later. When Tama-chan reappeared in Naka-gawa River in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, with a fishing hook embedded in the right eyebrow, it made national headline news, and Japan's Environment Minister was asked questions as to the well-being of the animal.
Today
Today, Tama-chan lives in Arakawa RiverArakawa River
The is one of the principal rivers flowing through Tokyo, the capital city of Japan. The point of origin is on Mount Kobushi in Saitama Prefecture, and the Arakawa River empties into Tokyo Bay, spanning 173 kilometers. The drainage basin covers 2,940 square kilometers...
. Attention from the media, not to mention Pana Wave Laboratory, has now faded, and the crowds have been reduced to a handful of Tama-chan watchers and amateur photographers. Signs in the vicinity warn people that anyone attempting to capture or harm the animal would be prosecuted, and that the river bank is under CCTV
Closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
surveillance.
Despite this, the last confirmed sighting occurred on April 12, 2004.