This was shot at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan.  The main tank called the “Kuroshio Sea” holds 7,500-cubic meters (1,981,290 gallons) of water and features the world’s second largest acrylic glass panel, measuring 8.2 meters by 22.5 meters with a thickness of 60 centimeters.  Whale sharks and manta rays are kept amongst many other fish species in the main tank.

Kuroshio Sea has been featured on over 1000 blogs and websites (including 6 top 100 blogs)

Current stats:

Youtube:  Over 3.8 million views
Vimeo: Over 1.3 million views
Break: Over 672K views
Digg:  3400 diggs

Kuroshio Sea PRESS:

Businessweek:

“Another example came from, of all places, a fish tank. Granted, it was Kuroshio Sea, the second-largest fish tank in the world. Canadian filmmaker Jon Rawlinson shot the sea creatures in it going about their day and set the video to the song Please Don’t Go by the band Barcelona. The result was a quiet, beautiful, Zen-like experience that has been watched more than a million times on YouTube since July 15 and nearly 600,000 times on Vimeo. The band Barcelona was so taken with the clip that they posted their own video response to it. And while they wouldn’t disclose any hard numbers either, Barcelona credited the video with boosting their album sales and concert attendance”

Huffington Post - Under The Sea At The Japanese Aquarium (#1 Blog in the world - Technorati)

“If HuffPost Green had a “moment of zen” feature, this would definitely qualify. Check out these delightfully peaceful and enchanting fish at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan. Music is from the band Barcelona, and the song is “Please Don’t Go.”"

Planet Green - Discovery

“Several weeks ago, a particular video went viral. The video is of an incredible tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium of the Kiroshio Sea, the second largest tank in the world. As the diverse life in the tank - from manta rays to whale sharks - glide past the glass, the song “Please Don’t Go” by Barcelona plays, making it an intensely beautiful, relaxing scene”

Newteevee:

“Did Canadian filmmaker Jon Rawlinson know what he was getting into when he plopped a Canon 5DMKII (with a 28mm-135mm lens) in front of the Kuroshio Sea tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa, Japan? Maybe not. But the end result is still magical. The world’s second largest aquarium tank is home to a vast array of sea life, and for 4 minutes and 33 seconds you’re given a high-res look at it swimming by.

Whale sharks and manta rays mingle with schools of smaller fish while, on the other side of the glass, human shadows stare in awe. The effect is combined with a delicate, soothing soundtrack that pulses along with the flow of motion in the tank, creating the most Zen experience you’ll find outside of a Buddhist temple.”

Canada.com, (best of youtube, week of july 20):

“Here’s some video from the second largest aquarium in the world. It would appear that standing there is something like watching the world’s largest high-definition TV.”

The Guardian: (Viral Video Chart)

“This is also the week that the world’s second-largest aquarium gets its nice, soothing moment in the sun. Wonder what the largest like?”

Kottke.org: (Top 100 blog)

“Get your Wednesday started off on the right foot: load this video up in HD, full-screen, let it buffer, and then just watch for awhile. You’ll feel right as the mail.”

Guy Kawasaki:

“Entrancing video of the world’s 2nd largest aquarium tank http://om.ly/asXC“

CNET Asia:

“Kuroshio Sea is a video of an aquarium tank that’s currently taking the world by storm. Since being published on YouTube on July 15, 2009, it has been blogged about by many regular bloggers as well as celebrities such as Kanye West and 50 Cent. Within two weeks, it has been viewed almost 869,650 times on YouTube alone. It is also one of the most watched videos on Vimeo.com and Break.com.”

The Dream in Action - Cause & Effect Chain: Beautiful Creation, Passionate Following, Living the Dream, Spreading Love through the Social Web

“I briefly mentioned Jon’s ability to place the right music with the right video and the Kuroshio Sea video is a perfect example. In fact the impact that this video has had on Barcelona, the band who’s music is featured in this film, is significant enough that they decided to post a very candid and complimentary video response on Youtube. Not only does there post speak very highly of Jon’s work, their decision to respond in this fashion speaks very well to their “getting it” factor. Barcelona is clearly on the right social websites and has now shown that they know how to use them to thank the community and connect with the folks that matter, their fans.”

Torrent Freak : (Top 100 blog)

“Not everyone in the music business agrees with this assessment though. When the indie rock band Barcelona saw one of its latest tracks featured in a viral video with nearly a million views, they responded quite differently. They claim that the clip below actually boosted their album sales and concert visits.”

Sundance Channel:

“Jon Rawlinson captured this beautiful high def recording of the Kuroshio Sea tank, one of the largest in the world, located at Okinawa’s Churaumi Aquarium in Japan. This impressive environment contains eighty different aquatic species including four whale shark (the largest living fish species) in a tank that is “ten metres deep, 35 metres wide and 27 metres long” and “holds 7,500 tonnes of water” (I’ll let you do the metric conversion). Set to the Barcelona’s “Please Don’t Go,” definitely watch this video in full screen for the completely mesmerizing and calming effect.

The Daily Dish - The Atlantic magazine - Andrew Sullivan - Mental Health Break (Top 100 Blog)

PDN, Photo District News:

“The “Kuroshio Sea” video, by Vancouver video producer Jon Rawlinson, needs little explanation: It’s a single, steady picture of a huge fish tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan, shot with a Canon 5D Mark II.

People love these fish. Since Rawlinson posted the video on YouTube and Vimeo last week, it has been played more than 730,000 times. “Kuroshio Sea” has become one of the first viral videos to truly exploit high definition video—YouTube has only been able to handle videos of this quality for a few months. Crisp details and smooth motion are essential to a clip like this, and Internet viewers can finally enjoy that experience.

The video’s sudden popularity has even lifted the status of the band Barcelona, whose song “Please Don’t Go” is the video’s soundtrack. The members of Barcelona posted their own YouTube video yesterday thanking Rawlinson for the publicity.

Planet 5D:

“The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is changing many things for many people and sometimes these things just reach out and grab you. Jon Rawlinson grabbed me (and many others) with this snippet he filmed at the Kuroshio Sea – the 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world. It is very fun to watch these beautiful sea creatures and it leaves me wanting more. Nature videos in full HD just seem to attract many people and this one isn’t any different.”

Holy Kaw, Alltop:

Behold the Kuroshiro Sea, the main tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. The whole thing holds 1,981,290 gallons of water and has the second largest arcylic glass panel in the world. Beautiful, isn’t it?

The original post on Vimeo has a pretty sweet desktop wallpaper and music links.

The Awesomer:

“Stunningly beautiful (and perhaps a bit sad for Free Willy fans), Okinawa’s Kuroshio Sea is the world’s second largest aquarium; the video was shot using a Canon 5D Mark II.”

Kontraband:

“Smoke a fat one, sit back, enjoy the view and let the day’s worries wash over you like a Pacific wave. Marvel at these beautiful creatures gliding around like tranquillity itself…until a giant shark comes to devour them! I’m kidding.”

Fubiz:

“Un shooting vidéo HD très impressionnant du 2ème plus grand aquarium au monde : Kuroshio Sea. Une captation réalisée par Jon Rawlinson avec un Canon 5D Mark II, à Okinawa Churaumi au Japon. Le tout sur la bande son : “Please don’t go” de Barcelona.”

The Last Minute Blog

Current.com, Kuroshio sea

Vimeo Staff Pick (Thanks Vimeo staff!)

Kanye West

50 cent

Common

On German TV show: Netz-Schau (go to 4 mins)

Uhull

Trendsnow

Design you trust

Web designer depot

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Some of the amazing comments I’ve received:

“i just was on break.com which you
probably already know of, I just wanted to say that today July 20th i
got home and i always check my email and go on break for new postings
and i happen to notice your underwater video of the enormous aquarium.
I have never!! in my entire life found a video so extraordinary and
peaceful. coming from a very stressful job as an officer i saw your
video and i  showed  my entire family and i just want to say its
people like you that make my life that much easier and peaceful seeing
footage that makes me feel calm. im not expecting you to send me a
response but i just wanted you to have some input of what i think.

thank you soo much your new biggest fan

Patrick”

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“Thank you so much.
I have been inside sick unable to eat for a week now and your video has brought me much solitude.
So amazing - Perfect actually.
Thank you again.
If you have the time could you please email me the artist and song.
Thanks, Mark

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Mate you’re one talented fella! I live in Tokyo and just happened upon that aquarium video. one angle and a gentle track and it blows my mind! If ever I feel bummed out, angry, tired or sad it sorts me right out. life changing man. Quality!

Pete

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Hey Jon,

Not sure if you would remember my name, I sent you a few posts when your Japan aquarium video hit Vimeo. Just wanted to let you know that I live in Sao Paulo (native New Yorker) and saw your video playing at a local corner bar! I could not believe the randomness and knowing the story behind the video made it great. It was one of those visually pleasing loops you see on sports bar TV’s. To think a Canadian guy filmed a fish tank in Japan and was being viewed at a bar in Sao Paulo, Brazil…crazy fuckin’ world! Pardon the French.

-Jared

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my name is Jindra, I’m from Czech republic and we have 3.09am now : ) I cannot sleep for some reason..that’s life, shits happen… well, anyways : ) I’ve just found your video from the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan…OMG !!…have to play it again and again…and again..
it’s simply AWESOME !!!! not just the fact - the aquarium - but also your script, camera, music… simply perfect..
I must say: thank-you ! you made me calm, you delighted my soul, you gave me forgot for a while for all my pain and sadness which defeated me sometimes in the night…you reminded me that there is still BEAUTY in the world. and I’ll fall asleep soon : ) with rays in my dreams..

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I sent the link to all of my friends - and we simply can’t stop watching it again and again and again.

Best regards from Cologne,
Sylvia

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Greetings from Tunisia Mr Jon i’m a great fan of your masterpieces, you’re really an artist for me, u’re doing great job… Keep on good work

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AND The best title of a post:  “the coolest fucking thing in the world” from The World’s Best Ever.

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August 4, 2009 | Permalink