A variety of beautiful and interesting art! The Museum MATSUSHIMA

The Museum MATSUSHIMA is a museum in Matsushima Town that houses beautiful and interesting exhibits, including music boxes

Matsushima once had a museum called the "Matsushima Music Box Museum," which displayed a large collection of music boxes from around the world.
In 2008, the Music Box Museum was renovated and reopened as the "Belgian Music Box Museum," becoming a very popular tourist attraction.
Shortly after this new beginning, on March 11, 2011,
the Great East Japan Earthquake struck.
Matsushima, a town located on the coast, suffered immense damage from the tsunami.
The Music Box Museum was also unable to escape the damage, and its closure was decided that same year.
Voices of sadness over the closure were heard from both within and outside the prefecture.

However, five years have passed since then.
In September 2016, with a grant from the prefecture, the Music Box Museum was reborn as "The Museum MATSUSHIMA"!
The reborn Museum is now a facility where you can enjoy not only music boxes, but also the "Toy Collection" of Teruhisa Kitahara, known as an "toy collector," and the "Segawa Mode Collection," which displays dresses from the golden age of Parisian haute couture.

In this article, we will introduce the charms of "The Museum MATSUSHIMA"!

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Kitahara Toy Collection

The first thing you'll see upon entering the museum is the Kitahara Toy Collection.
Owned by Teruhisa Kitahara, the toy appraiser familiar from the TV show "Kaiun! Nandemo Kanteidan" (Good Fortune! Anything Appraisal Team), the collection displays a variety of toys from around the world, including motion displays, tin toys, and celluloid toys.

Of particular interest is the motion display.
To be precise, this is not a toy, but rather a store display used to attract customers in the United States from around 1925 to 1955.
As the name suggests, its characteristic feature is that it moves. It
simply repeats a set of movements, but the movements are detailed and showcase the sophisticated technology of the time.

These items were not commercially available but were leased, so they are all non-sale items.
Therefore, they are rare and valuable exhibits.

The electrically powered, repeating motions must have been quite unusual for people at the time, and they probably found themselves stopping to admire them.
The motion displays on display can be seen in action once every hour.
They rotate through their respective locations, so you can see them in action if you wait a little while, making it a safe and enjoyable experience no matter when you visit!

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Music Box Collection

As you climb the stairs, many music boxes await you.
These are the music boxes that once played their part at the former Matsushima Music Box Museum. They survived the earthquake and tsunami and have once again regained their ability to play music.

While the "Music Box Alley," which offers a glimpse into the history of music boxes, is lovely, the real highlight is undoubtedly the concert hall.
There, a concert featuring various music boxes is held once every hour.
Of particular note is the world's largest music box, boasting a height of 7 meters and a width of 9 meters.
The overwhelming sound pressure, far exceeding what we can imagine from a music box, is like listening to an orchestra.
It is a magnificent work of art that deserves to be called a concert organ.

Why not take a moment to be enveloped in the sounds of the music boxes that have been restored from the damage caused by the earthquake and given new life?

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Segawa Mode Collection

The final exhibit showcases the history of beautiful dresses.
You can admire high-end tailored garments designed during the golden age of Parisian haute couture.

Haute couture refers to high-end tailored clothing.
The dresses displayed at The Museum are precious pieces by famous designers, created during the heyday of haute couture from the 1870s to the 1960s. They
are arranged chronologically, so you can enjoy not only their beauty but also the changing fashion trends.
Be sure to appreciate the designs by the designers and the meticulous tailoring by the artisans.

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Museum Shop and Museum Cafe

The Museum MATSUSHIMA also has a shop and a cafe

At the museum cafe, you can enjoy rich coffee made using a rare wood-fired roasting method, as well as sweets, light meals, and lunch. It
's also fun to take a break and chat about what you saw at the museum!

The museum shop sells not only music boxes, but also tin toys and Studio Ghibli character goods.
You can also purchase local Miyagi products and leather goods from Samurai Craft, a Miyagi-based leather goods manufacturer.

Both locations offer free admission, making them ideal for those tired of sightseeing in Matsushima or looking for unique souvenirs.
"The Museum MATSUSHIMA" is the last facility you'll reach if you tour the sights on foot from Matsushima Kaigan Station.
If you want to discover a different side of Matsushima's charm beyond its scenery and historical sites, be sure to visit!

INFORMATION

name	The Museum MATSUSHIMA
location	Matsushimacho, Matsushima, Fugendo 33-3
telephone number	022-355-0656
Official URL	http://www.t-museum.jp/
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