Kyuhaku Summer Tour
Collecting Insects at a Museum
While live insects are usually banished from our museum, bugs are the stars of this show!
The various tiny creatures appearing in works of art, both ancient and modern, seem as lively as
if they were living. This summer, why not try collecting them at Kyushu National Museum? Come
and find the creepy crawlies hiding around our exhibition rooms!
Exhibition Period: |
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30 July (Tue) – 1 September 2024 (Sun) |
Venue: |
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Room 11, Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall (4 F) |
Tickets: Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall (Permanent Exhibition) |
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Adults | 700 yen |
University students | 350 yen |
High school students, visitors under 18, and seniors above 70 | FREE |
*For more information on ticket prices, please see this page.
Leaflet |
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Exhibition Highlights
An insect-loving lord’s impressive sketchbook!
An insect-loving lord’s impressive sketchbook!

Album of Insects and Worms: Autumn
By Mashiyama Sessai 19th century Tokyo National Museum
Here is a sketchbook of insect drawings by Mashiyama Sessai (1754–1819), daimyo (domain lord) of Nagashima in present-day Mie Prefecture. Its depictions, as detailed and precise as a professional’s, are the pinnacle of natural history illustration. They show Sessai's keen eye for observation, as well as his love of insects.
Japan's first authentic book on herbalism is from Fukuoka!
Japan's first authentic book on herbalism is from Fukuoka!

Medicinal Herbs of Japan
By Kaibara Ekiken 19th century (First edition: 1709) Kyushu National Museum
Herbalism is the study of medicinal plants, animals, and minerals. After developing in China, it became popular in Japan during the Edo period (1603–1868). Author Kaibara Ekiken was a scholar serving the Fukuoka clan who pioneered Japanese herbalism. He completed this book at the ripe old age of 79!
What do you hear from the insect cage adorning this dish?
What do you hear from the insect cage adorning this dish?

Large dish decorated in overglaze enamels
Imari (Arita) 18th century Kyushu National Museum
This Imari-ware platter is about 50 cm in diameter. Surrounding the central floral motif are depictions of an insect cage with bell bugs inside, a multipaneled partition, and a booklet. As this dish shows, Japanese people have enjoyed the beautiful sound of insects in the summer since the Heian period (794–1185).
Sparkly insects gather on these bark-wrapped boxes!
Sparkly insects gather on these bark-wrapped boxes!

Boxes depicting butterflies and dragonflies
18th century Agency for Cultural Affairs
The surfaces of these boxes are covered with cherry bark. On top of this, maki-e (lacquer sprinkled with metallic powder) and mother-of-pearl inlay techniques have been employed to create butterflies and dragonflies. From wings to feet, every detail of their bodies is skillfully crafted in a careful and realistic manner.
These elaborate figures look just like the real thing!
These elaborate figures look just like the real thing!

Bronze insect specimens
France or Germany 19th century Kyoto National Museum
Brought over from Europe during the Meiji period (1868–1912), these sample specimens were shown at the Commodity Exhibition Hall of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. Bronze beetles, such as the saber tooth longhorn shown here, were so exquisitely crafted that they could have been mistaken for the real thing.

The real insects shown in this exhibition were curated by Dr. Maruyama Munetoshi (Kyushu University Museum).
Events
Please note that the events listed below will be held in Japanese only.No pre-registration required; first-come, first-served
Kyuhaku in 3-D: The Mysterious World of Ants Are there really “worker ants” that don’t work?

Mr. Murakami Takahiro (Okayama University of Science)