From "Sumasui" to "Kobe Suma Sea!” A base for the liveliness of the community.

"The aquarium is truly loved by the local community,” Shuichi Tozawa, Manager of Operations, recalls.
When the decision was made to close the aquarium, the staff wanted to express their gratitude to those who had enjoyed the aquarium so much, which led to the creation of a number of special events. The opinions of veterans who have been involved with the aquarium for a long time and staff from Suma, especially valued. The Dream Project was also realized at the suggestion of local staff.
When the staff realized their dream of playing taiko drums in front of the large aquarium tank, they were able to see the powerful performance up close and the audience joined in. Although there were times when it was difficult to interact with the guests, the staff were glad that they were able to implement the Dream Project again before the aquarium closed.
On the final day, a ceremony titled "Smiles and Gratitude on Sumasui's Last Day" was held, featuring performances by local elementary, junior high, and high school students, who danced and recited memorable essays. The ceremony, which was planned with the hope that everyone would enjoy themselves to their heart's content until the very end, was a very exciting event.
After the park closes, preparations will begin for the grand opening of Kobe Suma Sea World in June 2024.
The aquarium will be reborn as an even more spectacular and enjoyable aquarium with the addition of new creatures as well as those that have been carefully cared for up to now. Together with the development of Suma Seaside Park, where Sumasui is located, we hope to make the aquarium a representative spot of Kobe and further enliven the community.
After the aquarium closes, Mr. Tozawa says that a big project awaits, moving the creatures to a new aquarium tank. The entire staff is working together to create a complete system for the first step toward a new history.