"Mermaid academy" helps promote growing aquatic art form in Japan

A small business based in Nagoya, central Japan, is offering people of all ages a chance to step into colorful fish tails and learn the graceful art of "mermaid swimming."The practice of donning a mermaid costume and displaying underwater moves inspired by the mythical creatures has been growing in popularity, especially in countries such as the United States and the Philippines, where professionals are increasingly hired to perform at events and parties."I want to help it catch on in Japan, too," said Shoko Goto, 44, head of Mermaid Academy Japan.During one session in mid-May, eight studen…READ FULL ARTICLE