Northern Territories and Senkaku Islands Featured in New Museum Experience

このページを日本語で読む

Japan's government-run center for territorial information, the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty, located in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, reopened on April 18 after a major renovation. Materials on display demonstrate how the Northern Territories (Hokkaido), Senkaku Islands (Ishigaki City, Okinawa), and Takeshima (Okinoshima Town, Shimane) are all inherent parts of Japan's territory.

A key goal of the renovation is to reach a broader audience, especially younger generations, and to deepen understanding of Japan's territorial problems.

Instead of traditional reading-based displays, the exhibit now focuses on more interactive and visually engaging experiential displays.

*In an effort to attract a younger generation, the museum has revamped the exhibition to focus on visual content.*

A New Focus on Visual Storytelling

To attract younger visitors, the exhibition centers on video content. One highlight is the History Wall, which features three large screens detailing the history of each island group. For children, a globe-shaped digital display has also been installed.

During the media preview on April 17, the exhibition space was filled with vivid visuals projected via large monitors and projectors.

Immersive Island Experience Through CG

At the heart of the exhibition is the Immersive Theater, which uses 13 projectors to display CG footage of island landscapes across five surfaces — walls, ceiling, and floor.

Visitors can watch orca whales swim beneath drifting ice near the Northern Territories, and albatrosses nesting along the cliffs of the Senkaku Islands.

*The History Wall, which conveys the history of each island across three large screens.*

The theater also features animals that are either currently native to these regions or once inhabited them, including a taxidermied Japanese sea lion, a species that once inhabited Takeshima.

One scene shows the drifting ice surrounding the Northern Territories, while another displays the Senkaku Mole peeking its head out of the ground — a subtle yet fascinating detail.

The roughly seven-minute film gives visitors the sensation of soaring above the islands like a bird or diving into the surrounding seas, creating a powerful, engaging experience.

Encouraging Public Interest and Educational Visits

Kohei Saito, senior coordinator at the Cabinet Secretariat's Office of Policy Planning and Coordination on Territory and Sovereignty, said:

"We hope people will watch the footage and feel as though they've actually visited the islands — and in doing so, learn about them."
He added, "Since we're close to the National Diet, we'd love for students on school trips or social studies excursions to stop by."