~ Participatory observation program to unravel the secret of the relationship between Sapporo city's emblem and starfish ~
Sapporo's urban aquarium "AOAO SAPPORO" (Location: Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Director: Masao Yamauchi)
A special exhibition themed on starfish, also known as "sea stars," called "Starfish Wonder Exhibition" will be held from Friday, June 6th, 2025 to Monday, July 7th (Tanabata).
Starfish are star-shaped sea creatures, written in kanji as 海星 and expressed as "starfish" or "sea star" in English. They are characterized by their five arms radiating from the center of their bodies, and it is said that there are about 2,000 species that live in the oceans of the world.
From Friday, June 6th to Monday, July 7th, 2025 (Tanabata Day), AOAO SAPPORO will be holding the "Starfish Wonder Exhibition," where they will display 10 types of starfish*1 and introduce the diverse appearance of "sea stars," including their colors, shapes, patterns and textures.
In Hokkaido, the five-pointed star was historically used as the symbol of the Hokkaido Development Commission, and the shape of the star can be said to be one of the identities of the city of Sapporo. The Sapporo City mark, the Sapporo City Emblem, also has a star-shaped motif, just like the starfish, and is widely used on fire hydrants, manholes, tourist facilities, corporate logos, and more within the city.
In cooperation with Sapporo City, this special exhibition will implement an observation experience program in which participants can choose and vote for a "star" suitable for the city's emblem, following the Tanabata culture of writing wishes on paper strips. This is a collaborative program between the aquarium and the city, where participants can enjoy learning about the "Sapporo City Emblem" and its history while observing the various characteristics of starfish.
*1: Of these, 8 are new exhibits.
Special Exhibition "Starfish Wonder Exhibition"
Event period: Friday, June 6th to Monday, July 7th, 2025
Opening hours: 10:00-22:00 (last entry ~21:00)
Location: 4F "LABORATORY"
Contents: Ten types of starfish will be exhibited, including new exhibits such as the starfish Pectinifera and the river cricket.
Creatures on display: Starfish, river starfish, starfish, staghorn starfish, staghorn starfish, blue starfish, Japanese maple shellfish, manju starfish, Luzon starfish, biscuit starfish
*The exhibited creatures are tentative and may be changed or canceled depending on the health of the creatures.
Content: From the 10 types of starfish exhibited in the special exhibition, which have a variety of colors and shapes, visitors will be able to choose the starfish they think is most suitable for the Sapporo City emblem as the "star" and vote for it. The voting results will be regularly posted on AOAO SAPPORO's social media, along with information about the wonders of starfish.
About the Aquarium Club (Annual Pass)
The Aquarium Club is a membership system that allows you to enjoy the aquarium on a daily basis. Members can enjoy priority participation in animal-related experience programs and events, special offers on some of the menu items at Shirokuma Bakery &, and discounts and gifts at participating stores in the commercial facility, moyuk SAPPORO. Members will receive an annual AOAO SAPPORO pass, and if they renew their membership before the expiration date, they can continue their membership at a discounted rate of up to 20%.
Membership types: Nichi Nichi Member, Yona Yona Member, Ao Ao Member
AOAO SAPPORO/Facility Overview
Opening date: Thursday, July 20, 2023
Location: moyuk SAPPORO 4th floor, 20 Minami 2-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Access: 3-minute walk from Odori Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Line, Tozai Line, and Toho Line; 1-minute walk from Tanukikoji Station on the Sapporo City Tram
Business hours: 10:00-22:00 (last entry 21:00) *May change depending on the season
Closing days: Open all year round *May be closed temporarily for facility maintenance, etc.
Operating company: Aoao Co., Ltd. ( https://aoao.blue/ )
*Official website: https://aoao-sapporo.blue
*Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aoao_sapporo
*Official X: https://x.com/aoao_sapporo