Examining the Present Status of Natural History Museums in Japan

Abstract

 The philosophies and policies of natural history museums in Japan are examined within the context of their future development. To provide the basis for a future plan covering natural history museums in Japan, the situation of museums in the 1990s is reviewed to understand their current status. In the 1990s, when a period of high economic growth ended and academia appeared to be shrinking, many large public natural history museums opened in Japan, and some university museums were established. Museums, however, which were positioned within the administrative structure and did not acquire academic autonomy, could not be managed based on the initiatives of academics, and their expansion was stalled. Museums continued to suffer from low-quality management, research, and education. The National Science Museum, Tokyo and many other public museums made various plans with academic communities to develop research and social education, and to overcome their stagnation. In the 1990s, the museums tried to break away from bureaucratic control, raise research standards, and refine education as their main goals. Unfortunately, 30 years later, many of the museums' ideas and measures have not yet been realized. Excessive economic rationalism, which emerged against the background of Japan's declining national power and a mentally exhausted society, prevents museums and basic science from developing. Based on an understanding of the current status of society, philosophies and ideas on which to base the future development of natural history museums need to be proposed.