round worm
dolphin brain worm
According to Wikipedia, parasitism is a relationship between organisms in which one, the parasite, benefits from a prolonged close encounter with the other, the host, which is harmed. One could be forgiven then, for wondering why it is that the Meguro Parasitological Museum has become such a popular date spot for young Tokyo couples. The museum’s theme is not exactly an auspicious harbinger for nuptial bliss yet when we visited, the place was packed with twenty-somethings holding hands and staring intently at the contents of the grisly vitrines. I was a little surprised when, in front of a display of pickled tape worms, a stream of brown liquid started to run down the pant leg of a young man, who was chatting animatedly to the girl next to him. Neither of them seemed to notice and they just kept talking. “Sumimasen,” I interrupted, pointing to the puddle expanding on the floor around his feet. He looked a little shocked and extracted a leaking cup of take out coffee from his coat pocket. I was quite relieved when I found out that was all it was. And that love in the company of parasites could still be that distracting.
