"360-Degrees Lives" is a series of semispherical, 360-degree panoramic videos taken with a small camera. The shots provide a wide-ranging look at the lives of animals and insects cared for at zoos and other facilities. Users can view images taken from rare angles of prairie dog pups approaching the camera buried in the ground as well as beetles skillfully walk on top of the lenses.

Now, letting an elephant walk all over you takes some training!

July 29, 2016 update!

You can enjoy it on the full screen by clicking the "FULL" button in the upper right.(Depending on the terminal, it may not be displayed correctly. The recommendation browser is "Google Chrome".)

ICHIHARA, Chiba Prefecture--The Ichihara Elephant Kingdom zoo is popular for its elephant show. Seven Asian and African elephants show off their wide-ranging entertainment skills as they play soccer, dance and draw paintings.

But one that draws oohs and aahs from the audience is striding over a trainer as he lies on his back on the ground.

A large, black body of an elephant closes in, with ominous music being played... (By TOSHIYUKI TAKEYA/ Staff Writer)

*For further reading, click here.

*To go to the facility website, click here.

360° Videos

    Recommended

    • Photo

      Memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

      Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.

    • Photo

      YOASOBI

      A peek through the music industry’s curtain at the producers who harnessed social media to help their idols go global.

    • Photo

      Taste of Life

      Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.

    • Photo

      Diplomatic Documents

      A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry

    • Photo

      Memories of Nikkei Americans

      A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II

    Learning English