MUSEUM
“Food and Agriculture” Museum
The “Food and Agriculture” Museum was officially opened on April 6, 2004. The museum was built to commemorate the 110th founding anniversary celebration of TUA.
The building was designed by a globally renowned architect, Mr. KUMA Kengo, who is known for his approach to accordance of architecture and environment. Some 300,000 visitors coming from various places were recorded to visit the museum before its 3rd year anniversary.
The museum helps to disseminate significant information from TUA. It provides opportunity and place for learning and familiarization with food agriculture issues for TUA students and the public. From regular exhibitions, event exhibitions, open lectures, hands-on learning experiences, etc., visitors will be attracted by the interesting world of food and agriculture accumulated through education and extensive research activities during the 115 years existence of TUA. The museum also provides practical training ground for students in educational and academic information programs in acquiring qualifications of a curator.
The first floor displays the history of the university and various activities at present, as well as historic agricultural tools selected from over 3600 collections, several officially identified specimens of woods including huge Yaku-sugi Cedar, and an observation water tank of Clione which is known as sea angel. Several DVDs, including “Re-vegetation of deserts”, are available at the visual exhibition corner for better understanding the research and social activities of TUA. At the “Cafe Petit Radish (named after the college mascot, cute radish)” visitors can enjoy light meals and refreshments, and purchase items related to TUA such as books from TUA Publishing, CAMUCAMU fruit juice, etc. In the café, the promotion booths from TUA affiliated businesses give opportunities to know their activities and products related to food and agriculture.
The second floor displays a collection of “Japanese Sake Containers” They are the former collection of Fermentation Museum in TUA and about 200 of rare and valuable items are exhibited. Visitors will also be fascinated by a beautifully displayed showcase of bottles of Japanese sake from TUA alumni Sake breweries. About 80% of Sake breweries in Japan, about 800 of them, had been or are owned by TUA alumni, Other collections include varieties of chickens and roosters of domestic and overseas breeds and the international collection of rooster- and chicken-related craft items that was originally owned by the late NISHIKAWA Tetsusaburo, former director of the Nishikawa Livestock Farming Foundation.
The third and fourth floors contain the facilities for the Evolutionary Biology Research Institute, founded by the late KONDO Norio, a former honorary professor of TUA. This institute keeps precious plants and animals and a rich collection of mounted or pressed specimens. A part of their collection is also exhibited in the museum.
A grass house referred to as the “Biorium” opened on August 2, 2005 and is located adjacent to the museum. The Biorium displays many living plants and animals belonged to the Evolutionary Biology Research Institute.
Recently, more interests are focused on food and agriculture. The museum has the responsibility to mediate the significant education and research activities of TUA with students, alumni, farmers, consumers, and businesses related to food and agriculture. Food education, environment conservation and bio-energy will be also our target as related to food and agriculture, The museum strongly hope to bring understanding the food and agriculture to various people with diversified back ground.
