Shizuko the Sea Creature

Shizuko is a Japanese name. It’s actually a girl’s name that means “calm child”. However, in this fairy tale, Shizuko is neither a human nor a girl! He’s an underwater creature that adores the salty sea. He lives near the Ryukyu Islands in Japan, and is a tetraodon — a four-toothed fish.

Shizuko’s parents didn’t mind giving him a human name or a girl’s name. The only thing his mum cared about is how it sounded. To Shizuko’s mother, it was like a violin bow gliding over the strings, emitting a gentle, soothing sound. Shizuko’s father also liked the name, but mostly because he found it funny that their baby was quite the opposite of calm.

“He won’t stay still even for a moment! It’s hilarious!”

When little Shizuko hatched, he was all spotty, like his parents. At first he didn’t leave their side. He swam close to them because he was afraid of everything: sea crabs, the sun’s reflections, and anemones. His parents gradually introduced him to the marvels of the sea, and soon Shizuko stopped being so scared. As time passed, he made many friends: small fish, seahorses and jellyfish. Day after day, they all flitted about together and laughed a lot.

As Shizuko grew up, he couldn’t imagine a world without his friends. Every day was full of things to do. They explored old shipwrecks, caves, and dark abysses. They pretended to be ancient sea kings and queens, held swimming contests, and played hide-and-seek. However, handball was their favourite game. Shizuko, like almost all four-toothed creatures, had a special ability — he could inflate and make himself as round as a balloon. Shizuko let his friends throw him like a ball. To all of them, this was the most…