Kadokawa Musashino Museum to host natural history exhibition on insects

The Kadokawa Musashino Museum in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, will host a unique natural history exhibition titled ‘Mushihen wa Minna Mushi – A Natural History of Insects’ from October 17, 2026, to April 5, 2027.

Supervised by naturalist Hiroshi Aramata, the exhibition explores the evolving concept of ‘insects’ across different cultures and eras. It features historical natural history illustrations, including works by Maria Sibylla Merian and Edward Donovan, alongside Edo-period Japanese texts such as ‘Senchu-fu’.

The collection highlights how the definition of insects has shifted from broad historical classifications—which included creatures like frogs, octopuses, and snakes—to the modern biological understanding of six-legged arthropods. The exhibition will also display specimens and books from institutions such as the University of Tokyo Museum and the Meguro Parasitological Museum.