Something fishy is lurking in the near-sacred moat ringing the Imperial Palace -- an invasion of American species that Japan says must be stopped.
Fearful that the moat's indigenous fish are being rapidly wiped out by foreign species like bluegill and black bass, the Environment Ministry said it will begin draining sections to kill off the North American invaders and keep the palace pure.
"We just cannot stand there watching our indigenous fish such as gobies being eaten up by such strong foreign species," ministry spokeswoman Sae Sato said.