What would you feel if you saw a massive coral broken at the bottom of the sea?
For Kiyatake, a marine biologist at Osaka Aquarium, that moment was unforgettable. His words painted the scene as if it were unfolding right in front of me.
“When I first dived into the Great Barrier Reef, a massive coral, five meters in diameter, had been broken by a storm and lay on the sea floor. I felt the full force of nature, so powerful that it made me feel very small.”
That experience revealed two truths: the immense power of nature and the resilience of life within it. It became the inspiration for the renewal of Osaka Aquarium’s Great Barrier Reef exhibit.
The GBR Is More Than Just Big
The Great Barrier Reef is often described as the world’s largest coral reef, but its importance goes far beyond scale. It is a living mosaic of biodiversity, home to around 600 species of coral, each shaping unique landscapes unlike those found in Okinawa or other reef systems.
Among these species, the table coral stands out as a symbol of resilience. Recent research by Australian institutions has uncovered an astonishing fact: table corals can regenerate 14 times faster than previously believed. This rapid recovery not only sustains the reef’s ecosystem but also offers hope for its future.
For Kiyatake, this discovery is more than science—it was a revelation.
“I think just knowing that nature still has such power gives people hope,”
The renewed exhibit at Osaka Aquarium invites visitors to experience this balance of fragility and strength, reminding us that while nature’s forces can humble us, its capacity for renewal can inspire us.
A Curator’s Perspective — From Cyclone-Broken Coral
Kiyatake’s fascination with the Great Barrier Reef goes beyond its beauty. During his diving surveys, he encountered a haunting scene of death and rebirth—a moment that transformed his values and deepened his commitment to environmental protection.
“Many corals had been broken by the cyclone. Seeing them gave me a renewed sense of the importance of protecting the environment,” Kiyatake recalls.
This experience inspired the exhibit’s design, which compresses 200 meters of diving into three immersive floors.
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Top (6th) floor: Biodiversity
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Middle (5th) floor: Growth and Destruction
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Bottom (4th) floor: Death and Rebirth
Descending from light to darkness feels like retracing nature’s story—a microcosm of the reef’s majesty.
Inside the tanks, even the smallest creatures sustain the ocean’s balance. Hermit crabs clean corals by eating debris and algae, while parrotfish grind corals into fine sand, turning destruction into renewal. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to life’s cycle.
As Kiyatake explains: “Biodiversity exists because every living thing supports another.”
Just as the human body relies on the coordination of eyes, ears, and feet to function as one, the marine world thrives through countless forms of interdependence.
At the bottom of the exhibit, stones rest beneath soft sunlight filtering from above, with blue coral blooming from their surface. Who could imagine that humble rocks, cradled by water, would speak in silent beauty? They echo The Stone Garden at Ryoanji Kyoto and the Japanese concept of iwakura—sacred stones where spiritual renewal occurs.
From the Married Couple Rocks in Ise to the Kumano pilgrimage trail, these traditions remind us of nature’s enduring dialogue with human sensibilities.
By weaving Japanese elements into the vibrant pulse of the Great Barrier Reef, the exhibit becomes more than a display—it transforms into a living tapestry, connecting humanity with nature and inviting hearts from near and far to immerse themselves and, in doing so, become part of the story.
When we watch the shimmering coral, the swaying grasses, and the graceful fish gliding through the water, we are not mere spectators—we share their world. For a moment smiles sparkle and hearts overflow with joy, swimming to the rhythm of the reef.
Perhaps this is why we must be here in person, not just watching through a screen. The ocean’s magic cannot be streamed; it must be felt, breathed, and lived.
Awareness Beyond Borders
When Kiyatake visited museums overseas, he encountered something unexpected insights about Japan during wartime through archives and exhibits.
“Sometimes, you learn more about your own country when you leave it. That moment was eye-opening.”
He draws a parallel to the Great Barrier Reef. For Australians, the reef may feel like an everyday presence. But seeing it recreated at Osaka Aquarium could spark a moment of realization—a chance to rediscover their own heritage. They might return home with a deeper
appreciation for their country’s World Heritage site, noticing details even locals often overlook.
Passing the Future to Children
Many visitors to the aquarium are children, and Kiyatake is deeply aware of the exhibit’s educational role.
“If children grow up exposed to the natural environment, protecting it becomes second nature.”
The exhibit includes a hands-on area where visitors can touch coral skeletons, fostering curiosity and connection. Behind the scenes, Osaka Aquarium operates a biobank dedicated to coral preservation, actively growing coral for eventual return to the reef. These efforts form a continuous thread of care for the planet’s biological richness.
“Protecting nature is not only the work of special people. Anyone can take a step.”
What We Can Do
The world’s coral reefs cannot be monitored by scientists alone. Programs like CoralWatch allow anyone to participate in observation and data collection. While the reef faces environmental threats, its natural resilience—and the combined efforts of ordinary and extraordinary people, which offer hope for recovery.
The ocean isn’t distant; it’s part of us. Tiny phytoplankton drifting unseen generate most of the oxygen we breathe, more than all the forests combined. “Life in every breath” is not just a phrase; it’s a quiet truth, reminding us of our deep connection to the sea.
Conclusion
After speaking with Kiyatake, I realized Osaka Aquarium’s exhibit is more than a display—it’s a call to consider the future of our oceans and our own existence. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living organism on Earth, and passing its story to the next generation depends on the actions of each one of us.
The author acknowledges the assistance of Mr Itsuki Kiyatake and Mr Bonson Lam in the research for this article.
