Japan's Annual Wasp Release to Take Place

The Ministry of the Four Seasons has announced that the annual release of enormous aggressive wasps will take place tomorrow. Hundreds of thousands of wasps have been bred in 132 dedicated centers across the country, and the breeding vats will be opened simultaneously nationwide at 11:00am, allowing the wasps to swarm according to local conditions.

Authorities are hoping to avoid a repeat of an incident last year, when the wasps released in Fukui city swarmed on a local performance artist who had stuck sugar to himself with honey. Residents near every breeding center have been advised to wash themselves clean of sweet gooey substances, or to stay inside if they're not able to do so.

Last year's wasp release in Fukui

Some citizens have questioned the need for the wasp release. Saitama teacher Mushiga Kirai, 45, has petitioned the Ministry every year not to continue. "There's absolutely no need to inflict these bastards on the population," he told In Other News. "They serve no useful purpose, they just aggravate people, the same as the Ministry. Don't tell them I said that."

However, the Ministry has dismissed the idea of ceasing the release. Junior minister Jumin Iranai said, "We're well aware that there's absolutely no merit to the release, and the wasps cause nothing but irritation, misery and occasional deaths due to anaphlactic shock. However, a tradition isn't a tradition if it's useful."