October 17, 2002
4:11 AM   Subscribe

Museums in Japan: 387 total. Many in English.
posted by hama7 (22 comments total)
 
Clickety-click! The Canon Virtual Museum, for instance, was fun. Thanks, hama7!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 6:41 AM on October 17, 2002


Wow, what a great resource! I've been to a few of these, mostly in Kyoto and the Tokyo/Yokohama area. Unfortunately, I don't see my favorite, the ARK Toilet Museum, listed. Perhaps they've closed?
posted by MrBaliHai at 6:48 AM on October 17, 2002


If you can find a link to the ARK Toilet Museum, MrBaliHai, post it by all means!
posted by hama7 at 6:52 AM on October 17, 2002


Thanks, hama7

My pleasure Miguel, I'm glad to have found it.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
posted by hama7 at 7:03 AM on October 17, 2002


Alex Kerr (author of Dogs and Demons: Tales from the Dark Side of Japan) reminds us that the sheer number of museums (and cultural centers) are a negative result of the recession. The construction industry, supported by government handouts, have been building museums (among other ventures) that no-one visits in order to stay in business. This wasteful and worthless capital expenditure has helped to prolong the recession by keeping unprofitable businesses afloat. Japan ends up with a glut of meaningless "museums" focused on minutiae instead of significant cultural institutions devoted to Japanese culture.

Interview with Kerr
Review of Dogs & Demons
CS Montitor review
posted by gen at 7:21 AM on October 17, 2002


Sorry, hama7, googling for it turned up nothing. I saw it about 15 years ago, so it could well be gone by now. The Quirky Japan Homepage also has a nice list of offbeat Japanese museums like the Tokyo Laundry Museum, Meguro Parasite Museum, and Rubber Baseball Exhibition Hall.
posted by MrBaliHai at 7:22 AM on October 17, 2002


This is so great . . . Thanks, hama7 (you're getting one of these repetitions for every 100 people who love it, I posit).
posted by hackly_fracture at 8:35 AM on October 17, 2002


Hot damn!!! This is gold baby, pure gold.
posted by landock at 9:24 AM on October 17, 2002


Wow, hama7, this is the first post I see from you that doesn't make me want to invent my own world without those like you =)

Good link, thanks.
posted by azazello at 9:38 AM on October 17, 2002


hmmmm...Any museum here covering Japanese treatment of prisoners of war? I understand they have a problem with history.
posted by terrymiles at 10:56 AM on October 17, 2002


It's well worth checking out the rest of the site, which has links to museums from all over the world, categorised by country. The list for museums in the UK is particularly good (especially good sites are starred).
posted by plep at 12:51 PM on October 17, 2002


For those interested in toilet museums... the Sulabh Toilet Museum in New Delhi is just that.
posted by plep at 12:55 PM on October 17, 2002


thanks hama! (i'm covering another 100 people, as per hackly_fracture)
posted by amberglow at 6:02 PM on October 17, 2002


Plep: thanks for the great museum! The front page toilet is awe-inspiring.
By the way, are you this plep?
posted by hama7 at 9:02 PM on October 17, 2002


Fukui-san!
Yes, Ota?
posted by eddydamascene at 9:29 PM on October 17, 2002


Hama7 - that's me. :)
posted by plep at 11:51 PM on October 17, 2002


Hama7 - that's me. :)

Whoa, this is huge! Splendid! Your site is absolutely tremendous! You can count me as one of many long-term respectful and appreciative readers.
posted by hama7 at 1:03 AM on October 18, 2002


It's only the best on the Web, innit? It is indeed an honour, sir! :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 3:11 AM on October 18, 2002


Wow, thanks for pointing me to plep.org, hama7. (plep: you really should put that on your user page!)
posted by languagehat at 7:53 AM on October 18, 2002


Thanks, you guys are really kind. :)
posted by plep at 11:28 AM on October 18, 2002


The truth is the truth! I mean, is it our fault you're too modest to list your magnificent weblog on your profile? Considering that every single day you have thrice the amount of interesting links that exist on MetaFilter or anywhere else, why shoud you thank us?

No, wait - of course, that's your greatness. :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 1:08 PM on October 18, 2002


Well said, Miguel.
posted by hama7 at 6:12 AM on October 19, 2002


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