Many exhibits to relate the folk customs of Tono steeped in mystery
The Tono City Museum was first opened in 1980 as Japan’s first ethnic museum. The land of Tono is explained through various approaches such as information related to “Tono Monogatari” which has brought together the folk tales of the land, displays of traditional folk information through data collection over many years, donations, and presentations, and image videos and animation on a modern multiscreen.
Three galleries for elaborate exhibitions under different themes
Gallery 1 has the theme of “The World of Tono Monogatari”in which “Tono Monogatari” and exhibits to learn about Tono are displayed. Exhibits relating the history of Tono as it moves from mountain to village to town based on the legends describing the natural features and folk customs of the area are on display along with the collections of folk tales. There is also a lot of information related to Kunio Yanagita who was not only an editor but also a pioneer on Japanese folklore. On the large multiscreen in the gallery, videos on items such as folk tales and animation by the famous monster-making manga artist Shigeru Mizuki are featured. In the center of the gallery, there is a diorama of Tono’s topography, and on the diorama screen, there are quotations from sources such as “Creation Mythology”. In Gallery 2, the theme is “Tono, People, Natural Features and Culture”, in which numerous examples of actual data and photographs collected over many years are on display and Tono’s unique culture of “mountain, village and town” is approached. The “town” from the early 20th century is recreated while the life of the “village” is expressed through a diorama, and the “mountain” where gods and beasts lived and which was worshiped with awe is expressed through actual data and sound. Gallery 3 holds special exhibitions whose themes will change depending on the time.