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"Fuji", with her tail fin cut due to a disease
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 Fuji
is a female dolphin, who lives her life in Okinawa
Churaumi Aquarium. Due to a sudden disease of necrosis, the mass
of whose tail fin had to be cut and the remaining was no more than
25%; she became unable to swim and jump.
Under severe living conditions, "the prosthetic tail fin project"
started to make Fuji swim as before by adopting the prosthetic tail
fin.
With his talent as an artist and his knowledge of marine mammals,
Kazuhiko YAKUSHIJI was asked to participate in the project with Bridgestone,
one of the most leading world gum manufacturers. Yakushiji worked
with his heart and soul in the project to show his love and passion
to the marine mammals.
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Making the prosthetic tail fin for dolphins was the first trial
in the world
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 Making
the prosthetic tail fin for dolphins was the first trial in the world.
A number of trials and failures were repeated.
Some prosthetic tail fins were taken off very easily. Some broke by
the power as the dolphin swam. There were successions of failures. However,
all the members involved in this project never gave up and many tests
were done.
（Photo: Left is the tail fin made of gum and carbon
produced by Bridgestone and middle and right are the tail fins of polycarbonate
and gum by Kazuhiko YAKUSHIJI.）
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The prosthetic tail fin that was made up after three years
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After a continuing process of trials and errors, the prosthetic tail
fin was accomplished successfully. Fuji, who became able to swim with
the prosthetic tail fin, recovered her own muscle force. Her recovery
was better than expected and was able to jump high like before with
the prosthetic tail fin. At present, she can swim well even with her
own small fin!
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The prosthetic tail fin that is still being improved
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This project has been taken up on TV and newspapers
in Japan and many people have visited the aquarium to see Fuji.
At present, the prosthetic tail fin project still continues. Also
the hybrid prosthetic tail fin that has the merit of both Bridgestone
and Kazuhiko YAKUSHIJI was completed and the project team is working
on the additional improvement.
The research of the prosthetic tail fin project was awarded “Science
Communication Award (Excellence)” in the 16th Biennial Conference
on the Biology of Marine Mammals held on the Society for Marine Mammalogy
in USA. （Photo: the tail fin produced by Bridgestone
and Kazuhiko YAKUSHIJI.）
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