A kaleidoscopic world of insects unfolds in a tranquil residential area of central Tokyo.
Specimens from Japan and around the world are exhibited on the walls of the Fabre Konchu-kan (Fabre insectarium), a facility established in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward in honor of French entomologist Jean-Henri Fabre (1823-1915).
They include the Hercules beetle, the world's largest beetle, and morpho butterflies that are said to be the most beautiful in the world. The insectarium also exhibits living insects such as stag beetles and long-horned grasshoppers, and visitors can see worker ants carrying eggs and ant lion nests.
Children particularly enjoy a large monitor called "Mushi Mega-ne" (magnifying glass) that shows enlarged images of insects. The images shown on the screen were taken by Kenji Kohiyama, an emeritus professor at Keio University, via special technology. By operating a video gamelike controller, the images of insects can be enlarged to the size of the whole screen, even those of small insects measuring about 2 centimeters. With this device, visitors can learn interesting things about insects, such as the fact that beetles with slick shells -- such as unicorn beetles -- are unexpectedly hairy.
The first basement floor of the insectarium reproduces the house where Fabre was born in 19th-century southern France. Visitors can learn there how Daisaburo Okumoto, 74, the director of the insectarium and a scholar of French literature, spent nearly 30 years on translating Fabre's "Souvenirs Entomologiques."
Visitors can also see actual farming equipment and furniture collected by Okumoto for reference when he supervised a biographical manga of Fabre.
The insectarium was built on the grounds of his own house. At the time, Okumoto was wondering what to do with his materials after tatami mats began sagging under the weight of his books and specimens, as well as a growing amount of farm equipment and other reference sources. A friend encouraged him to open a museum.
According to Okumoto, the baby-boomer generations were the most enthusiastic about collecting insects, and the world's pre-eminent specimens are located in various parts of the country. However, there are few people to carry on the practice of insect collection, so valuable specimens could be discarded after the deaths of their owners.
Among children visiting the museum, many know the names of various insects but some don't want to touch them. To address the situation, the insectarium holds events for children to collect insects, as well as classes on how to display specimens.
Okumoto hopes that insects will offer opportunities for children to come into contact with nature. "If you touch an insect leg, you can feel the prickliness of it. If you smell an insect, you'll notice a peculiar odor. Information equivalent to terabytes of data is packed into one actual insect," he said.
Fabre Konchu-kan (Fabre insectarium)
Opened in 2006, the museum is managed and operated by a nonprofit organization established by Okumoto.
Address: 5-46-6 Sendagi, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo
Open: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Admission: Free
Information: 03 (5815) 6464 during operating hours
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