Beneath the surface of Japan's Tateyama Bay stands a shrine
called a torii, sacred to the Shinto religion. But more than being
a place of spiritual importance, the underwater site is host to
something else that's remarkable — a unique friendship between a
man and a fish.
For more than two decades, a local diver named Hiroyuki Arakawa
has been entrusted with overseeing the shrine and being a guide to
others who wish to visit it. In that time, he's become
well-acquainted with the local marine animals who live in the area
— including one friendly Asian sheepshead wrasse named Yoriko.
Over the course of 25 years, the pair have forged an incredible
bond based on trust and respect.
Perhaps the sweetest testament to their friendship can be seen
in Arakawa's custom of greeting Yoriko with a kiss.
Although fish may not be commonly considered particularly
feeling sorts of creatures, that's a notion based more on
misconception than reality. In fact, a recent study found that fish
are smarter and more social than previously thought — and one only
need look at Arakawa and Yoriko's quarter-century-long relationship
for proof.
