This image captures the heartwarming, decades-long friendship between Japanese scuba diver Hiroyuki Arakawa and "Yoriko," a giant Asian sheepshead wrasse. Arakawa rescued the injured fish, and the two share an incredible bond where the fish greets him and allows him to pet and kiss her head.The Diver: Hiroyuki Arakawa is a Japanese scuba diver who has been looking after an underwater Shinto shrine in Tateyama Bay for decades.The Fish: Yoriko is an Asian sheepshead wrasse (also known as kobudai).
This is one of the largest species of wrasse, known for the large bulbous hump on the forehead of older males.The Bond: The pair's friendship began over 25 years ago when Arakawa noticed the fish was injured and exhausted. He fed and cared for her until she recovered. Today, she still recognizes him and swims over whenever he taps on metal underwater.
