NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION TOKYO REGIONAL OFFICE
	August 8, 2001

The National Science Foundation's Tokyo Regional Office periodically reports on developments in Japan that are related to the Foundation's mission. It also provides occasional reports on developments in other East Asian countries.

Tokyo Office Report Memoranda are intended to provide information for the use of NSF program officers and policy makers; they are not statements of NSF policy.

Report Memorandum #01-10

On July 10, 2001, the Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Nippon Kagaku Miraikan, Nickname: Miraikan) opened in the International Exchange Academic Park at the Tokyo Metropolitan Waterfront.

The museum is a facility for experiencing science technology, stimulating independent thinking ability, and providing an opportunity for new knowledge. At the museum, visitors from middle and high school to adults learn the most advanced science and technology by hands-on exhibits, events, and enjoy meeting scientists and technicians.

It is the birth of the groundwork for hatching a dream and a prospect for the future. This operation plays a central role in the nation as a science facility by disseminating information on science and technology. Furthermore, the museum attempts to aggressively communicate and interact with main science facilities abroad.

The museum was built by the Japan Science and Technology Corp., an affiliate of the Science and Technology Agency at a cost of 40 billion yen (US$32 million).

Exhibitions of 4 fields:

1. The Earth Environment and Frontiers

Under the theme of "How to preserve the Earth--an oasis in the Universe", and "construct the future society".

• Economic house, economic car that can harmonize with the environment.
• Hands-on experiences such as camera assembly and taking apart an automobile.
• A dynamic picture of the changing earth environment.

2. Life Science and Human biology

Understanding the diversity and potential variation of life, providing an opportunity to have a new viewpoint toward human existence.

• The variety of genome and human evolution.
• Gene simulator.
• Regenerating the Human body by using up-to-date technology.

3. Technology Innovation and the Future

Defining the meaning and position of the most up-to-date technology, creating future pictures, searching the novel relationship between man and technology, man and artificial products.

• Robotic world
• Nanotechnology, digital city--LSI
• Superconductivity--new power

4. Information Technology and Society

Experiencing an information-oriented society, "anytime", "anywhere", "anything", "connection", always perceiving new possibilities.

• Computer or interface world
• Information network car
• The world of information

In addition to the permanent exhibits, there are temporary exhibitions. There is a two-story domed theater for dynamic films of space and the oceans. And there is a hall for scientists to conduct symposiums and seminars.

Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, professor emeritus at Tokyo University, is the Director General of the Museum. Mamoru Mohri, Japan's first astronaut, has retired from the National Space Development Agency of Japan, now is full-time director of the Museum.

For further information on the Museum, please go to Miraikan website at URL: http://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp.

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Wendy Wu (wwu@nsf.gov)
NSF/Tokyo