06　Exhibition area

Exhibitions which visitors can see from different perspectives and angles on each visit

The exhibition area is used mainly to hold two types of exhibitions, namely, the “main exhibition” to introduce the diversity and richness of Mie and the “special exhibition” which consists of a couple of different exhibitions to show the attractiveness of the prefecture from different perspectives. We always aim at holding exciting and surprising exhibitions so that visitors of all ages can fully enjoy discovering something new and understand the themes of our exhibitions more easily. Besides, we are able to continue to demonstrate the rich diversity and attractiveness of the prefecture by holding exhibitions based on different perspectives in a couple of different rooms and renewing them on a regular basis. Visitors can make a new discovery every time they visit our exhibitions.

Three basic concepts of our exhibitions

At MieMu, we hold exhibitions based on the following three basic concepts in order to embody our goals.

Exhibition 1 exhibitions to help visitors learn about the nature, history and culture of Mie

Everywhere at the museum, we make various attempts to help visitors better learn about and explore the prefecture.

Exhibition 2 exhibitions created in cooperation with everybody

We expand our interactive activities by holding exhibitions to release the results of research studies conducted with visitors and citizens of Mie and to send regional information based on the reports from various people.

Exhibition 3 exhibitions to foster children

With the use of our building and grounds, we give children opportunities to “make a try,” “conduct research” and “conserve and hand down heritage” on their own so that they can realize how fun it is to “learn” and “think” about something. Hopefully, they can become more interested in museums as well as in their local communities through this attempt.

Collaboration between the main and special exhibitions

Through collaboration with the main exhibition Room, we hold large-scale traveling exhibitions throughout Japan, voluntary exhibitions and collaborative and interactive exhibitions created with citizens of Mie, etc. in various combinations in order to fully introduce the attractiveness of Mie. Exhibition spaces are different in size according to the theme and scale of the exhibition. Besides, the interactive exhibition room is flexibly used not only for exhibitions, but also for a wide variety of events including workshops.

Main exhibition room

The main exhibition room is used to introduce the “diversity” and attractiveness of the nature, history and culture unique to Mie so that people can easily discover that it really is a “wonderful prefecture.” In the corners of the room, we reproduce a variety of natural environments which are typically found in the prefecture, including those of the Osugidani Valley, Mt. Odaigahara, the Suzuka Mountains, Ise Bay and the Kumanonada Sea. In the middle of the room, we exhibit materials concerning the flow of people, goods and cultures through history which has been influenced and promoted by those natural environments. In between, we also give information on the relationship between people and nature seen from four different perspectives, namely those of mountains, basins, plains and shores, so that visitors can think holistically about it. Thus, the nature, history and culture of the prefecture are comprehensively evaluated and expressed through integrated hands-on exhibitions of such beautiful and dynamic objects here.

[Shared exhibitions]

We provide a comprehensive and integrated introduction to our materials by adopting a method to help visitors see each of the materials from the natural, historical and cultural perspectives.

[Participatory exhibitions]

In the “life and nature” areas, we hold “participatory” exhibitions of materials related to four different natural environments in Mie, which reflect the information, including photographs, about “life and nature” given by visitors and citizens of the prefecture as our collaborators. Besides, in the “Kumanonada Sea and Higashi-Kishu” Area, we exhibit fish models to show what a large school of sardines look like, which were produced in cooperation with visitors and citizens of the prefecture before the opening day of the museum. You can definitely take a look at those fish models (about 3,500 models) which each of us made with enthusiasm.

Special exhibition room and interactive exhibition room

We further develop the main exhibition by flexibly combining exhibitions of different themes and sizes. By doing so, we are able to introduce the diversity and richness of Mie’s nature, history and culture nationwide from various different perspectives. The special exhibition consists of “special exhibitions” (voluntary exhibitions and traveling exhibitions throughout Japan), “interactive exhibitions” and “thematic exhibitions.” You can fully learn about the attractive features of the prefecture through voluntary exhibitions prepared by the museum and exhibitions created in collaboration with visitors and citizens of the prefecture.

●Special exhibitions

Just like conventional special exhibitions at other museums, we offer voluntary exhibitions (held a couple of times a year) to introduce the nature, history and culture of Mie and their attractiveness based on the results of our research studies, etc. as well as traveling exhibitions throughout Japan.

●Interactive exhibitions

We offer a wide variety of interactive exhibitions in cooperation with various different people, such as exhibitions to release the results of joint research studies conducted with visitors, citizens of Mie and different organizations, interactive exhibitions prepared through collaboration between the museum (as an instructor to teach exhibition techniques) and citizens of the prefecture to show the outcomes of their voluntary activities, joint exhibitions hold with other organizations including universities and companies, and joint exhibitions hold with the prefecture to effectively transmit information on its policies and measures from the museum.

●Thematic exhibitions

Thematic exhibitions are small-scale exhibitions which feature various themes related to the main exhibit in detail. Through those exhibitions, we introduce seasonal topics as well as a wide variety of things sorted by field, type and region.

06 Exhibition area