I’m hopelessly behind on my blog posts. The queue for museums alone is about a dozen long. I blame it on my improving back. I’ve been walking around without a cane for about a month now. It feels great to just be up and walking without pain, to be able to sit for longer than 30 minutes without discomfort. So I’m out and about like a man just released from prison.
The museum in this post is about the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno Park, in northeast Tokyo. That’s where most of the national museums of Japan are located. It was my first time to visit. And as far as natural science museums go, it’s a pretty good one.
The most impressive display at the museum is the comprehensive collection of stuffed mammals from around the world. It’s awe-inspiring to see how large some of these creatures are. But I couldn’t help think about how each of these animals ended up there. It’s morbid, but it would have been interesting to have a note about the source of each taxidermy victim. “Died of natural causes at the zoo” or “Shot by man with small penis” might be a few examples. This display alone is worth the visit to the museum.
My other favorite exhibit is the taxonomy tree of the animal kingdom that lines the floor of one of the halls. It’s lit up in different colors according to phyla, and each branch ends at a display that shows what bacteria, bug or bird is the end species.
There were also the usual dinosaur skeletons, dioramas of prehistoric life, old machines and simplistic interactive gizmos that you find in many science museums. All of it was beautifully presented, in a lovely historic building that’s been newly renovated.
The Quilting Sword 
Wow! What a museum. Our natural science museum in Halifax holds many stuffed animals arranged in woodland scenes behind glass. Nothing from outside Nova Scotia is represented.
Their research department used to loan me some stuffed owls in display boxes to take to use as subjects for my art/nature classes. They always looked like such sad little things and I often wondered how they met their end.
The taxonomy tree looks so inviting. How could anyone not be excited to learn more in such a beautiful environment? Our museum looks so stale in comparison.
well, i’m certain, your museum is still interesting for being comprehensively local. tokyo has a lot of money so they can afford to collect animals from everywhere. i favor a more local flavor.
thanks for the mention in your blog by the way!
You’re very welcome Wind 🙂