Sumida Aquarium Posts 2026 Penguin Relationship Chart, with Drama and Breakups
by Lwrless on 4/15/2026, 7:56:31 PM
https://www.sumida-aquarium.com/special/sokanzu/en/2026/
Comments
by: JAG_Ecalona
The one detail that always gets me with these charts: penguins who've just been broken up with will refuse to eat.<p>Also apparently one female ended six relationships in a single year, and the staff description of her, translated from Japanese, is something like "basically demonic."<p>And yes, some penguins have developed crushes on their caretakers. Which the aquarium has also charted. Professionally.
4/18/2026, 2:37:14 PM
by: omoikane
I tried to decipher the naming themes:<p>Festivals:<p><pre><code> - Tsuzumi = drum used in festivals - Taiko = drum used in festivals - Happi = clothes worn in festivals - Wasshoi = shout used in festivals - Hanabi = fireworks - Matsuri = festival - Chouchin = latern used in festivals - Bonbori = type of light used in hina festival </code></pre> Food:<p><pre><code> - Monaka = bean paste filled snack - Ichigo = strawberry - Basil = culinary plant - Momoha = maybe derived from momonoha, which is a culinary plant - Peach = fruit - Akebi = fruit - Omochi = snack - Chanko = hot pot - Fuji = apple - Melon = fruit - Ohagi = snack - Sour = flavor - Yuzu = fruit - Ponzu sauce - Ramune = drink - Warabi = type of mochi - Yomogi = type of mochi - Daifuku = snack - Cookie = cookie - Ringo = apple - Potechi = potato chips - Cherry = fruit - Lime = fruit - Marron = chestnut - Kinako = soybean flour - Banana = fruit - Zunda = paste made from edamame - Suika = watermelon - Shiratama = snack - Cocoa = cocoa - Ame = candy - Choco = chocolate - Arare = snack - Anmitsu = bean paste snack - Anko = bean paste - Anzu = fruit - Macaron = snack - Koume = plum </code></pre> Plants:<p><pre><code> - Pine = tree - Momiji = maple - Susuki = tree - Rose = flower - Tsumugi = flower - Nadeshiko = flower - Sakura = flower - Komari = flower - Aloe = plant - Ajisai = flower - Kiriko = flower - Azuma = plant </code></pre> The names were collected roughly left to right. I was reading the Japanese version[1] so some of the romanizations might not match the English version.<p>[1] <a href="https://www.sumida-aquarium.com/special/sokanzu/" rel="nofollow">https://www.sumida-aquarium.com/special/sokanzu/</a>
4/18/2026, 4:55:39 PM
by: herodoturtle
There’s a pretty great penguin colony site seeing area in Cape Town called Boulders Beach for those of you that happen to visit and are keen to see them up close.<p>Also this article is just great.
4/18/2026, 4:57:23 PM
by: RyJones
I took my mom there a few years ago, it is a really nice setup. If you’re in town, highly recommend.
4/18/2026, 4:55:07 PM
by: lifeisstillgood
Now I want this for London Zoo :-)
4/18/2026, 4:04:03 PM