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Giant Squid Filmed At Japanese Marina (wsj.com)

Posted by timothy on from the kraken-klaxon dept.

overThruster writes: The Wall Street Journal reports: "The rare sight of a giant squid swimming inside a marina was captured on video on the coast of the Sea of Japan. According to a manager at the Mizuhashi Fisherina in Toyama prefecture, about 250 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, one fisherman found a 3.7-meter (12.1-foot) giant squid swimming beneath fishing boats docked at the marina on the morning of Dec. 24." The extraordinary close up video taken by divers shows the giant squid's natural coloration as well as the action of its siphon propelling it through the water. Additional footage here.

28 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. Oh no, there goes... by 605dave · · Score: 3, Funny

    Clearly this is a sign that the squid is fleeing from a newly reawakened Godzilla. Perhaps Japan should prep those army trucks with the electrical guns on top.

    --
    Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a difficult battle. - Plato
    1. Re:Oh no, there goes... by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 1

      Or, it was on a diplomatic mission to establish the first contact with the hungry bags, mostly water, as the squid's ready their power grab on the total sea domination.

      Hey, it could happen.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
  2. Better quality video by xaxa · · Score: 2

    Perhaps this one is closer to the source video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    1. Re:Better quality video by plover · · Score: 1

      The video linked in the article is terrible. The footage of the squid looked like it might have been fantastic, but we'll never know because it was covered up by talking heads and half a dozen gigantic tentacled text-overlay monsters.

      --
      John
    2. Re:Better quality video by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      Jesus H - this. I predict in a couple of years it won't make any difference what the video actually contains because you won't be able to see it.

      Shut up and let the video alone!

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    3. Re:Better quality video by bfpierce · · Score: 1

      I'm sure the Japanese consider our news source video to be just as abjectly terrible.

    4. Re:Better quality video by Ksevio · · Score: 1

      Did you check the "Additional footage" link? It's 30 seconds of intro effects, some squid video, then 30 more seconds of outro effects.

  3. At least they didn't instantly kill it... by Bearhouse · · Score: 4, Funny

    As part of some dubious "research" project into how delicious giant squid tastes...

    1. Re:At least they didn't instantly kill it... by will_die · · Score: 4, Informative

      Actually they don't taste that good. Large squid taste like ammonia

  4. Re:12 feet? by xaxa · · Score: 2

    3.7m is a decent size, going by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    Perhaps you're thinking of the colossal squid?

  5. too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's a kid now.

  6. Natural coloration? by damn_registrars · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If we expect this animal to spend most of its life living at greater depths, then something is likely amiss with it that is bringing it this near the surface. While this would likely be closer-to-natural for coloration than a dead one, I'm not sure that it is necessarily fully in its natural coloration, either.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
    1. Re:Natural coloration? by Solandri · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The usual MO for these deep water species is to stay in deep water during the day for protection, and rise closer to the surface at night to feed (there being more stuff to eat per cubic meter closer to the surface). That works fine in the open ocean, but if they get too close to the shore it isn't exactly obvious which direction they need to swim to get back to the open ocean. This is especially true for harbors, which if you've ever gone boating is basically a man-made maze to block incoming waves and swells. It is very easy for a deep water animal to enter a harbor during its normal feeding cycle at night, then get stuck trying to find its way back to deeper water at day.

  7. WTF is up with the video link? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Seriously? a fucking 25 second intro with nothing but shitty music and crappy graphics? Get to the point and stop wasting my fucking time!

  8. False alarm by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

    Turns out they were shooting a tentacle porn movie. The squid was a rubber dummy.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  9. Giant Squid Filmed At Japanese Marina by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

    Japanese school girls are in a state of panic.

  10. Earthquake? by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

    One comment on the website says "Big earthquake coming soon. Brace Yourselves. Deep sea creatures in shallow waters is a bad omen."

    1. Re:Earthquake? by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

      But even the most intelligent squids still wouldn't know that staying close to the big scary noise is the safest place to be.

    2. Re:Earthquake? by Holi · · Score: 1

      I'm going to go with ill do to the lethargic movements.

      --
      Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.
    3. Re:Earthquake? by Holi · · Score: 1

      And the fact that a deep sea animal is hanging out in shallow water.

      --
      Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.
  11. Re:I don't see a squid by Nrrqshrr · · Score: 1

    I watch a lot of Japanese shows and movies and I think this is one major cultural difference between "us and them". They aren't that bothered with text.
    Sometimes half the screen is covered with blurbs of text here and there, their commercials nearly transcribe everything said in a text format right over the image. And no one seems bothered by it.
    Try doing that in a western show with our "TL;DR" mentality.

  12. Re: 12 feet? by tysonedwards · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sadly, no busty brunettes in short pleated skirts were also present. Just lots and lots of Seamen.

    --
    Thirty four characters live here.
  13. Re:12 feet? by magarity · · Score: 1

    12 feet sounds big enough that I wouldn't be swimming with it. Those things go toe to toe against sperm whales.

  14. Re:I don't see a squid by Lorens · · Score: 1

    All I see is a bunch of fucking Japanese characters

    Oh, pipe down. You can see the squid just fine.

    What, is there a US Navy talking head in there too?

  15. Re:I don't see a squid by flacco · · Score: 1

    Oh my god I just got the joke that I think this is. Well done, sir or madam.

    --
    pr0n - keeping monitor glass spotless since 1981.
  16. This is a typical squid by Geek_Cop · · Score: 1

    ....that may have been affected by radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Just a theory.

  17. viral marketing for Mothra & Mecha Squidrilla by Thud457 · · Score: 1
    What part of

    Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

    didn't you understand?!!

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  18. Re:I don't see a squid by KGIII · · Score: 1

    Hmm... Not many people refer to the USN as "squids." In fact, they're usually few and proud - at least in my observations.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."