World Cup Oracle
Japanese celebrate cute otter after victory against DFB team
Taiyo, a river otter at Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa in Tokyo, predicted Japan’s victory over Germany. photo
© Uncredited/kyodo/dpa
The animal World Cup oracles are back. In Japan, a river otter inspires.
A river otter named Taiyo is celebrated in Japan after the sensational victory over Germany at the World Cup in Qatar.
Taiyo, who lives in Tokyo’s Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa, had predicted a shock victory for Japan against four-time world champions Germany in the opening game of the World Cup. The eight-year-old male did this by placing a miniature soccer ball in a blue bucket with the Japanese flag on it the day before. Taiyo ignored the red bucket with the German flag and a yellow one that said “Draw.”
Delighted by Japan’s 2-1 win, Japanese football fans raved about the otter online, calling him “amazing” and “extremely competent”. Others were hoping he would make a prediction for Japan’s next group game against Costa Rica on Sunday.
YouTube video with the otter making his “prediction”