Main characters: the boy and the mermaid
Plots: The boy "found" a mermaid at the ocean? pond so he brought it back home. However, his parents said that there is no mermaid. The boy is taken to the police department and was questioned many times. For every question, the boy answered he saw a mermaid but the police denied his answer and mentioned what he saw was a fish. The boy was taken to another prison and was questioned. This time, he had some physical punishments as well. However the boy wanted to prove that he saw a mermaid for real so he searched many different ways and facts to prove about it. When he returned home and saw the aquarium, he did not find any mermaid; what he saw was a single fish. So, the boy returned the fish back to its original place.
End: I think the boy dreamed as if he could go in the ocean and live with the mermaid because he got sick of the real world where he cannot mention his opinions. Compared to real world, the world that the mermaid lives in seems to be free and open; I though of this idea when the mermaid was jumping in and out of the water. So, instead of living in a clumsy world where any opinions are restricted, the boy maybe wanted to live freely like the mermaid.
Message: All humans have the right to imagine and give opinion of what they thought of. Yes, it might sound ridiculous to some people, especially adults whose innocence has lessened, but not giving their child for a place to develop diversitiesof senses and imaginations are what they should not do. Mr. Tezuka maybe wanted to send out a message that opinions and imaginations should not be forgotten.
