I've really got to learn to read kanji; 'cause if that article in anyway explains how this situation came about, it might slow the spinning in my head. O_o
"I thought it would be fun to set the goldfish free into the pool and swim with them" ... In Sayama city, Saitama, an uproar occurred after large quantities of goldfish were found in the Irumagawa Middle School swimming pool. With motives for swimming in the pool aside, the Sayama police department filed charges to the Saitama District Public Prosecutors Office Kawagoe Branch against four third-year middle school student girls on suspicion of trespassing and property damage.
According to the police department, the prosecuted are four individuals from Sayama and Tokorozawa. In early August, the suspects cut through a barbed wire fence surrounding the pool, sneaked in on the night of the 5th, and let loose approximately 300 ~ 500 goldfish, rendering the pool unusable for a period of time.
The goldfish were leftover from a goldfish scoopingtent at a summer festival (*1). While already having snuck into the pool to swim at night several times prior to the incident, one individual proposed that "it would look really pretty to see lots of swimming goldfish in the water" and that they should swim in the pool with them. Three others who shared her attitude filled bags with goldfish, released them into the pool, and swam with them half naked. Unfortunately, the pool at night was pitch black, resulting in their disappointment of not being able to witness the "goldfish in the water."
The goldfish were discovered on the following 6th, causing a big disturbance. Members of the middle school's swimming club collected the goldfish and gave them to any students or citizens who wished to care for them. The four individuals expressed their apologies saying, "We are very sorry for causing everyone so much trouble."
Reference note (*1): The event in question was the "Tanabata Festival" held in front of Sayama-shi station. Various booths, including multiple goldfish scooping stands, were set up for the festival. Therefore, at first the police suspected the possibility that the vendors were practicing illegal dumping methods of their surplus product.
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