
【About the SEA-FOLK MUSEUM】
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The Toba Sea-Folk Museum was founded in 1971 to preserve the knowledge
and history of
Toba’s fishing traditions and culture. We are the only museum inJapan
dedicated to understanding the traditions of Toba’s fisher-folk, and the
relationship between man and the sea.
For over 30 years the museum has collected
and preserved the antique fishing equipment of
Mie Prefecture’s fishing villages, and researched the traditions and religion
of the area’s fisher-folk.
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In 1985 the museum was awarded ‘Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties’
by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs,
for our collection of over six thousand exhibits about Toba’s ancient
fishing traditions and
antique fishing equipment.The museum was built in Uramura, outside of Toba
city,
in order to preserve the fishing heritage of this area for future generations.
It took over 6 years to plan and build the museum, and it finally opened
to the public in 1993. |
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【Exhibition】
7 main sections





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1.TRADITIONS OF SEA FOLK
People love the ocean. The oceans of the world have
brought forth life under the sea. For the Japanese, inhabitants of pacific
islands, the ocean has been more significant than just a place where people get
food and salt. The ocean has been used as a highway for trade
or as the means of customs and religions etc. since ancient times. Traditions of Sea Folk has been characterized
by a long and significant relationship between the ocean and people.
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2.AMA DIVERS IN SHIMA
The history of Ama (women
diver) fishing dates back to 10,000 years ago. How could they catch abalones in
less than 50 seconds without scuba-equipment? Try holding your breath for as
long as the Ama, when watching them dive. |
3.SEA-FOLK FAITH AND FESTIVALS
In Japan, gods reside everywhere. This is an important point to understand the
Faith of Japanese. Gods may settle in a house, in a boat, and even in a small
piece of wood. Japanese worship natural phenomena because of this belief. Meet
“the Ebisu” god, the Japanese god that brings fortune and harvest. |
4.FISHERY IN ISE BAY
Ise Bay used to be a favorable fishing area. People would catch
just what food they needed for the day. In those days man depended on himself
or being developed. “Utase-ami ryo”, trawling nets using a sail-boat was one of
traditional methods of fishermen. |
5.FISHERY IN SHIMA AND KUMANO
In the past, dropping octopus-pots,
harpooning Marlins, sharks and whales, snatching schools of sand lance by scoop
net in the area have been replaced by technological innovation. Don’t miss the processing of Katsuo-bushi(dried bonito) and nori(sea weed). Both of which are
essential to prepare Japanese dishes. |
6.SEA POLLUTION
Industrial waste discharge and land
reclamation have destroyed tidal flats and shallow seaweed areas, the home of
small marine life. Thermal pollution from atomic generator plants is affecting
the whole environment of the sea. Our daily life easily becomes a source of
pollution. It’s time to Save Our Seas when we notice
S.O.S. signals from marine organisms. |
7.WOODEN BOAT AND NAVIGATION
Travel back in the past and hear
the sounds of waves with the collection of Japanese original and Asian wooden
boats in the museum’s ship storage. In Japan, boat builders used to put a spirit called funadama-san in each new boat he made.
As boat builders are becoming fewer in number today, unique and traditional
construction techniques are disappearing. |
We also keep over 75 small wooden fishing boats on display in our special
collection room.
Four times a year the museum holds special exhibitions and photo galleries,
giving
further opportunities to explore the long relationship between Toba’s
fisher-folk and the sea.
【Architect】
The museum is located in a beautiful part of Toba’s countryside close
to
the sea, where you can hear the birds singing and appreciate the sea air.
In the museum’s friendly atmosphere you can explore the long relationship
between people and the sea, looking at over 58,000 exhibits.
| Design: |
Naito Architect & Associates Hiroshi Naito |
| Structural Engineering: |
Structural Design Group Co.,Ltd(S.D.G) Kunio Watanabe |
| Door Artwork: |
Ken-ichi Matsuda |
| Monument: |
Susumu Koshimizu |
| Display Design: |
Kazuhiro Satomi |
| Furniture: |
Shinobu Suga |
| Size of the museum’s buildings |
| ●hall area of the museum - 17,896 m2 |
| ●hall areas of building - 1,905 m2 |
| ●collection room - 2,026 m2 |
| ●research room - 499 m2 |
| ●experience program room - 387 m2 |
| ●cafe - 74 m2 |
Toba Sea-Folk Museum has been awarded several prizes, including
- Japan Inter-Design Forum Prize by Japan Inter design Forum
- Award of Architectural Institute of Japan by Architectural Institute of Japan
- Award ofPublicBuilding by The Ministry of Construction.
Etc.
【Opening times】
21st March 〜 30th November 9am 〜 5pm
※Opening hours are extended between
29th April 〜 5th May and 20th July 〜 25th August
8.30am〜 5.30pm
1st December 〜 20th March 9am 〜 4.30pm
【Closing days】
The museum will not be open on 26th June〜30th June, and 26th December 〜30th
December.
【Admission fees】
|
Adults(over
18 years) |
Children (under 18 years) |
| 1 person |
\800 |
\400 |
| Groups (20-99 people) |
\720 |
\320 |
| Groups (over 100) |
\640 |
\280 |
【Address】
Toba Sea-Folk Museum
Tokai Suisan Kagaku Kyoukai Foundation
Post code: 517-0025
1731-68 ogitsu Uramura-mach
Toba -City MiePrefecture
【Access】
(By Car)from the pearl road “ounouraoohashi” go 3km and turn left.
From Toba tenboudai drive 3.5 km and turn right.
(Train and Bus)coming from the JR and Kintesu Line Toba train station
and
using the Sankou Bus which goes via pearl road takes about 25 minutes.
Get off at the “Umi no hakabutsukan” stop and the museum is a 7 minute
walk.
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