Mermaid performers make splash at inaugural Asian Cup in Hainan

After two days of thrilling competition, the 2024 China Mermaid Open Grand Final and the inaugural Asian Cup concluded on Friday at Atlantis Sanya in south China's Hainan Province, signaling a new milestone in the development of mermaiding and water sports in Asia.

The event brought together over 70 athletes from across the continent, showcasing not only the grace and athleticism of mermaiding but also the growing appeal of water sports to Asians.

Friday's freestyle skills competitions were a highlight of the Asian Cup, with champions decided based on combined scores from the two-day event. China's Guo Ke claimed the men's singles title with a performance inspired by the legendary Monkey King, or Sun Wukong from Chinese folklore.

"I am very satisfied [with my overall performance], especially with my makeup and styling. However, there's room for improvement in terms of technique, for example, in handling unexpected situations and recovering smoothly from mistakes. The character of the Monkey King, in particular, is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and resonates strongly with the audience," said the men's singles champion.

Guo's teammate, Huang Xiaoying, finished first in both prescribed skills and freestyle skills to win the women's singles title. Huang also competed in the team event, where her excellent performance helped secure the championship for Team China.

"I would give myself a 90 [out of 100] because I felt a bit rushed during my performance today, probably due to excitement and nervousness. That said, winning the women's solo championship as well as our [team]'s championship makes me very happy and genuinely thrilled," said Huang.

"Looking ahead to next year, training will remain a regular part of my routine alongside my work. As for competitions, I'll keep an eye on the events announced in our country and decide which cities to visit. It'll also give me a chance to explore the local cuisine," said the athlete.

The successful conclusion of the event signals a bright future for mermaiding in the region. Atlantis Sanya Vice President Heidi Perez Cao Jorge Ova expressed enthusiasm about the event's impact on the sport's growth.

"We are so glad that this competition has finished successfully today and we have the first Asian Mermaid champion. How exciting is this? We hope that through this competition, more and more young people will be inspired and learn about the sport and join it," said the vice president.

"With professional advice from the government, hard works from both judges and the staff, we have the confidence to host more world-class competitions in the very near future and we are already planning for it," she said.

Mermaid performers make splash at inaugural Asian Cup in Hainan

A group of Japanese peace activists gathered outside the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Friday to protest the government's push for constitutional revision and the lifting of a ban on lethal weapons exports.

The Japanese government officially revised the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology" and related implementation guidelines on April 21, allowing overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities.

Kyodo News, a Japanese news agency, said the changes mark a significant shift in the country's defense policy, noting that it has long touted itself as a "peace-loving nation" under its war-renouncing Constitution since its defeat in World War II.

The protesters accused the Takaichi administration of lifting the export ban without sufficient debate or deliberation in the National Diet.

"Without full discussions in the National Diet, the government just arbitrarily decided on arms exports and made various excuses for it. Also, regarding the incident of intrusion into the Chinese embassy, the government has not issued an apology. Japan should be on friendly terms with neighboring countries, yet it engages in actions that incite confrontation. [Constitutional revision] is truly disturbing. Especially nowadays, the Liberal Democratic Party and Prime Minister Takaichi are pushing for arms exports in order to build a nation capable of waging war. This is absolutely unacceptable," one female protester said.

"As a matter of fact, it [lifting the ban on lethal weapons exports] was arbitrarily decided by the cabinet without any consideration of people's opinions. Revising the pacifist constitution will undoubtedly harm Japan's national interests. I sincerely hope that the Takaichi administration will stop this practice," a male protester said.

"Article 9 of Japan's constitution has gradually, to some extent, been distorted by various faits accomplis. While Japan is nominally a 'peaceful country,' this is not the case in reality," another female protester said.

Protesters rally in Tokyo against arms exports, constitutional revision