FUKUOKA -- Each year during the colder months (about December to February) a variety of whales pass northern Kyushu on their way south to warmer waters and richer feeding grounds, following the Tsushima Warm Current down from Okhotsk along Japan's west coast. Larger whales tend to trail the Pacific Ocean off Japan's east coast, and at the southern tip of Japan the numerous whale species merge and head south for Okinawa.

Most whales follow the same trails each year, but last September, about 12 short-finned pilot whales, not usually seen north of Kagoshima around that season, suddenly appeared just 15 km west of Fukuoka. Most of them soon continued on their way, but three drifted to Karatsu in Kyushu's northwest. After fascinating the public for over a month the whales appeared much weakened, and a large aquarium in Fukuoka, Marine World Umi no Nakamichi, was called in to help. One whale had found its way back out to sea, but the remaining two were transported to the aquarium, where they are still recovering.

As mammals, whales have a special place in the human imagination. They have appeared in religious texts and entertainment alike, from the story of Jonah and the whale in the Old Testament to "Moby Dick" and "Free Willy." Try replacing the protagonist in each with say, a catfish. As Marine World curator and director of marine animals department, Masayuki Nakamura commented with humor, "It's easier to get emotional over a whale than a tuna." So staff at the aquarium, who conduct a fair amount of research on cetacean species seen in waters near Fukuoka -- particularly dolphins and porpoises -- took to their new charges with enthusiasm.