Animal oracles have long been a tradition at major soccer tournaments. Paul the octopus, for example, will not be forgotten at the 2010 World Cup. In Japan, a river otter named Taiyo is now being celebrated after the sensational victory over Germany at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Taiyo, who lives at Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa in Tokyo, 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.
