A lone sunfish at an aquarium in southwestern Japan lost its appetite, began kicking the side of a fish tank and appeared unwell after the facility closed for renovations last month.

The next morning, the sunfish ate for the first time in about a week and was steadily recovering, said Moe Miyazawa, an aquarist at the Kaikyokan Aquarium in Shimonoseki.

The large sunfish arrived at the aquarium from the South Pacific coast of Kochi in February 2024. The sunfish, a member of the blowfish family known for its unique shape and large eyes, has become one of the facility's most popular attractions.

When the sunfish began to look unwell on December 1, days after the aquarium closed for a six-month renovation, its keepers suspected digestive problems, gave it less food and visited the fish tank to comfort the sunfish during construction noise, but to no avail .

Then, at a staff meeting, a man said the sunfish might have been affected by the sudden absence of an audience.

“We were skeptical, but we decided to do what we could,” Miyazawa said.They hung up their uniforms and placed human-shaped cutouts with photos of smiling faces outside the tank to cheer up the fish, Miyazawa said.

“I knew (the sunfish) was watching us when we were setting them up, but I never thought it would start eating the next day,” Miyazawa said, beaming.The staff now visit and wave at the sunfish :

Aquarium keepers say they hope many fans will return to see the sunfish when the aquarium reopens in the summer.