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Lake Biwa Museum

{{Short description|Museum in Kusatsu, Japan}}

{{Infobox museum

| name = Lake Biwa Museum

| native_name = 琵琶湖博物館 (Biwako Hakubutsukan)

| native_name_lang = Japanese

| image = File:滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館外観.jpg

| imagesize = 320

| coordinates ={{coord|35.0741388|135.9349166|display=inline}}

| established = 1996

| dissolved =

| location = Shiga, Japan

1091 Oroshimo, Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture 525-0001, JAPAN

| type =

| collection =

| visitors = 450 000 (2016)

| director =

1996- Hiroya KAWANABE

2010- Toru SHINOHARA

2019- Kei-ichi TAKAHASHI

| president =

| curator =

| publictransit = 25 minutes away from JR Kusatsu Station by bus.

| car_park =

| network =

| website = http://www.biwahaku.jp/english/

}}

The {{Nihongo|Lake Biwa Museum|琵琶湖博物館|Biwako Hakubutsukan}} is in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It was founded in 1996. The theme of the museum is "relationship between lakes and people" and introduces the nature and culture of Lake Biwa, the largest and oldest lake in Japan.

The Lake Biwa Museum's aquarium is one of the largest freshwater aquarium in Japan. The giant Lake Biwa catfish (Silurus biwaensis) is a popular symbol of the Lake Biwa Museum.

A full-scale replica of Maruko-bune, a traditional wooden sailing boat of the Lake Biwa, is on the exposition in the museum.{{Cite book|title="Marukobune", the traditional sailings boats in the Lake Biwa region, Japan.|last=Makino|first=Kumi|publisher=Yuzankaku|year=2013|isbn=978-4-639-02262-6|location=Tokyo|pages=|quote=}}

It is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA),{{Cite web|url=https://www.jaza.jp/about-jaza/structure/list-aquarium|title=正会員名簿【水族館】|author=JAZA|language=ja|accessdate=2024-02-27}} the aquarium is accredited as a Registered Museum by the Museum Act from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.{{cite news |url=https://museum.bunka.go.jp/guide/ |title=法律上の位置付けがある登録博物館・指定施設 |date=2024-02-27 |publisher=文化庁}}

File:Entrance of LBM.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Aquarium.jpg

File:Biwako museum.JPG

Philosophy

The purpose of the museum

To build a better coexistence between the lake and humans by deepening our comprehensive understanding of Lake Biwa (Article 1 of the Ordinance Concerning the Establishment and Management of the Lake Biwa Museum, Shiga Prefecture).

; Activity Policy{{Sfn|滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館|1996c|p=3}}

  1. Research
  2. Interaction and Service
  3. Information
  4. Material Maintenance
  5. Exhibit

Three "Fundamental Principles"

: 1. Museum with a theme{{Sfn|滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館|1996b|p=138}}

: to be a comprehensive museum that grows and develops by simultaneously dealing with both nature and culture under the theme of "the lake and people".

: Lake Biwa is a lake rich in nature and deeply related to people, and it is necessary to have a comprehensive nature that considers the relationship between people and nature. Therefore, the Lake Biwa Museum aims to be a museum that can accumulate knowledge and information about Lake Biwa and other lakes and marshes from the perspectives of both nature and people, and reflect this knowledge and information in its exhibitions and exchange activities, based on research and surveys under the theme of "Lakes and People". By maintaining such a comprehensive nature, new discoveries will be made, and museum activities will be guaranteed to provide enjoyment that will make people want to visit again and again. Based on the internationally valuable research and investigation of Lake Biwa, the museum can be expected to play an important role internationally by enhancing research to understand the global environment, biodiversity conservation, and cultural uniqueness.

: 2. A museum that serves as an invitation to the field{{Sfn|滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館|1996b|p=138}}

: The museum aims to be a gateway to the field as an attractive locality.

: Lake Biwa and its catchment area are a natural ecosystem and a history of nature and people. It is a particularly rich field with hidden relationships with the unseen and unknown. The museum will be a place to plan and practice programs that will serve as an entry point for research and exchange activities in the region. This will also aim to create opportunities for people to become interested in people's interests, lifestyles, and the region.

: 3. Museum as a place of exchange{{Sfn|滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館|1996b|p=138}}

: Aim to create a museum that can be used for a wide range of purposes by a diverse range of people, and where they can interact with each other.

: The museum should be a place where the general public and experts alike can enjoy and experience exhibitions, exchange and service activities, research and survey activities, etc., and a place to learn and meet others. To foster encounters with the unknown and with knowledge, and to be a place where a diverse range of people can get involved.

Exhibitions

  • Gallery A: Geological history
  • Gallery B: Human history and folklore
  • Gallery C: Environmental issues and ecology
  • Discovery room for children
  • Special exhibits
  • Outdoor exhibits
  • Aquarium{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Robin James|title=Lake Biwa Museum home page|url=http://www.biwahaku.jp/english/|publisher=Lake Biwa Museum, Japan}}

Gallery

Exterior

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201024 01.jpg

File:Lake Biwa view from LBM.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201004 04.jpg

File:滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館水族展示室.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201004 14.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201024 38.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201024 39.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201004 07.jpg

File:Oncorhynchus kawamurae by DaijuAzuma.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201024 35.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201004 02.jpg

File:Marukobune 2.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201024 11.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201024 08.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201024 12.jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201024 34.jpg

File:Big red sculpin (Procottus major).jpg

File:Lake Biwa Museum 20201004 09.jpg

File:Micro Bar in Lake Biwa Museum.jpg

File:滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館内観.jpg

References

  • {{Cite report|title=琵琶湖博物館展示ガイド：湖と人間：びわ湖の足あとの、ここが入口。|editor=滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館|year=1996|publisher=滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館|location=草津|id={{NCID|000002608342}}|ref={{SfnRef|滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館|1996b}}}}
  • {{Cite report|title=滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館要覧：湖と人間とのよりよい共存をめざして|editor=滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館|year=1996|publisher=滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館|location=草津|id={{NCID|BA83583442}}|ref={{SfnRef|滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館|1996c}}}}

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [http://www.biwahaku.jp/english/ Lake Biwa Museum HP]

{{Zoos of Japan}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Museums in Shiga Prefecture

Category:Aquaria in Japan

Category:Kusatsu, Shiga

Category:Museums established in 1996

Category:1996 establishments in Japan

{{Japan-museum-stub}}