The Big Metal Ball On The Japanese Beach.

[sandyRoe]

Do they know what it is yet?

[naomi24]

A buoy.

[bookbinder]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-64748346
According to this news report, no, they don't know. It's a bit surprising that the authorities don't seem to be interested in opening it up. They are almost casual about it.

[gingejbee]

Incidentally, recently found out that Yanks pronounce "buoy" as "boo-ee". Daft eh?

[DTCwordfan]

yes very disconcerting that booeee is......

[jno]

mostly Yanks in the north east say booee. However, they say it as spelt, which is always rational.

[andy-hughes]

No dafter than saying 'aluminum' when any fool knows it's 'aloominum'.

And as George W Bush always advised, we need to be aware of the 'nukular' threat.

[Atheist]

Be fair, Andy, GW always spelt it 'nucular'. Anyway, with language drift, 'nucular' is now acceptable, like arsk and intregal and..... (I can't go on!...........)

[Bazile]

//Incidentally, recently found out that Yanks pronounce "buoy" as "boo-ee". Daft eh?//

No more daft than the way the Brits pronounce a lot of words

[mushroom25]

is Miley Cyrus going to appear on top of it, naked?

[pastafreak]

I had lo look up the pronunciation of bouy as I was curious. Here a (long) discussion for anyone interested...seems both boo-ee and boy are found in the US

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/24318/the-pronunciation-of-buoy

[Bazile]

It's a Banksy

[Atheist]

Many US vowels (and probably English ones, although I can't come up with an example off the top of my head) are spoken with two syllables. It's just regional accents. BTW, David Buoy said that the Bowie knife was pronounced 'Booey knife'.

[douglas9401]

Maybe it only identifies as a buoy.

[Togo]

^^ Aahh it was only looking for a lifeguard.

[jno]

it had been aluminum in Britain - it was the British who then changed it, the Americans stuck with the original.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/aluminum-vs-aluminium