Many across the museum sector are concerned about the welfare of Japanese heritage after the recent sever earthquakes. We have received the following update:
The JCSM (Japan Council of Science Museums) Secretariat checked, at least two nature science museums had serious damage. In the Kumamoto prefecture, there are 4 member museums. The other member museums in the Kyushu are safe.
- The Kumamoto City Museum at the Kumamoto Castle area had considerable damage to the land on which the museum sits. The facility has been temporarily closed for renovations and it is not yet clear whether they will reopen on schedule. They are checking their collections for damage.http://webkoukai-server.kumamoto-kmm.ed.jp/web/index.shtml
- The Mifune dinosaur museum only slightly damanaged. A fossilized dinosaur head dropped off its skeleton and broke. Colleagues from the National Museumof Science and Nature (Kahaku) are providing assitance.http://www.mifunemuseum.jp/index.php
- The Goshoura Cretaceous museum has not been extensively damanaged.http://gcmuseum.ec-net.jp/
- The Aso Volcano Museum has been damaged and the main access route is still closed. And they are maintaining watch on the the large volcano, Mt. Aso, for any concerning activity. http://www.asomuse.jp/
Ref. 1. For pictures of Kumamoto earthquakes; https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E7%86%8A%E6%9C%AC%E5%9C%B0%E9%9C%87&biw=1195&bih=778&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiAu6Ljm9zMAhWHW5QKHeFRBfAQ_AUICCgD
Ref. 2. About the earthquakes in Japan; http://www.hinet.bosai.go.jp/hypomap/?ft=1&LANG=en
We’re grateful to JCSM and our colleagues in Japan for keeping us posted on what is happening.