Unprecedented Giant Loach at Aquarium átoa!? 'Compare and Learn' Loach Exhibition to be Held! Special Project: 'Challengers Wanted! Find the Biggest Loach No. 1'

AQUARIUM×ART átoa (Chuo-ku, Kobe; hereafter 'átoa') will host a special exhibition titled 'Is There a Loach Bigger Than This!? - Compare and Learn Loach Exhibition -' from Thursday, April 30, 2026, to Sunday, May 31, 2026! The star of this exhibition is a giant loach (species: Amur loach) that has surprised even our veteran keepers. Leading up to the exhibition, we are calling for photos of loaches kept in your homes to be displayed during the event. Are you familiar with the 'loach'? It is a long, slender fish that lives in rice paddies and rivers. While there are many types of loaches, they are generally about 10cm in size. The Amur loach we are exhibiting was donated by Yanai Shoten, a long-established ice manufacturing company in Kobe. This particular loach is an astonishing size, exceeding 30cm. Using this giant loach as a focal point, we will introduce the hidden charms of loaches by 'comparing' their ecology and characteristics. Ahead of this exhibition, we are collecting photos of your loaches. We will select the 'Top 3 Biggest Loaches' from the submissions, and the three winners will receive an 'átoa Invitation Ticket' and a 'Loach Scale' created by creature artist Kawazame Kobo, who connects people with waterfront life. Additionally, all submitted photos will be displayed inside the aquarium during the exhibition period. We look forward to your many entries. Furthermore, as a related event, we will hold a 'Loach Quiz Tournament' on the 3rd floor FOYER on April 30 (Thu) and May 1 (Fri). The content will be enjoyable for both adults and children, covering interesting culture and facts about loaches. Prizes will be prepared for those with the highest number of correct answers in the quiz tournament. We hope you will join us! Exhibition Overview Exhibition Name: Is There a Loach Bigger Than This!? - Compare and Learn Loach Exhibition - Exhibition Period: April 30, 2026 (Thu) – May 31, 2026 (Sun) Exhibition Location: átoa 3F FOYER. Admission: Free *Separate átoa admission fee required. Exhibited Organism: 1 Amur loach *Please note that the exhibited specimen may change without notice depending on the condition of the animal. Challengers Wanted! Find the Biggest Loach No. 1! ◆Submission Period...