Commentary of ART AQUARIUM MUSEUM GINZA

Visitors to the Art Aquarium are greeted by many layers of hanging lanterns.
Traditional Japanese lanterns illuminate the darkness and guide you inside the facility.
This "Mantoro" was inspired by the Mantoro that can be seen at Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara Prefecture, which is also known as a World Heritage Site. These lanterns were collected by our museum from all over Japan.

Japanese Corridors seen in Japanese shrine architecture. This is a spatial work with aquariums that resemble the pillars that line the corridor.Goldfish swimming gracefully in a cylindrical aquarium invites you into the fantasy space of Art Aquarium.
The linear pattern on the sides of the corridor is called the "Asanoha pattern" and has been used on children's kimonos since ancient times in Japan as a pattern to ward off evil spirits or demons.

There are approximately 70 types of goldfish swimming in our facility. 
This circular aquarium exhibits rare breeds of goldfish, including the Jumbo Oranda, which is a particularly large variety of goldfish, and the Hamanishiki, a rare breed with scales called pearl scales.
You can see the types of goldfish we have at our facility on this page of our official website.
https://artaquarium.jp/enjoy/goldfish/

Edo Kiriko, a traditional Japanese glass craft, with goldfish swimming in it, and "Bonsai” is a traditional Japanese planter gardening, are displayed on the shelf. Edo Kiriko works by Kosyo Nemoto, and Bonsai works by bonsai master Masashi Hirao.

This work features five aquariums lined up to create a waterfall. If you go around the back side of the aquarium with water flowing down, you can take a photo with the goldfish as if they were in the water.In this aquarium, there are also Cellufine Pleco and Garalfa, also known as a doctor fish, which cleans the tank by eating moss , swimming together with the goldfish. Take a close look inside the aquarium and try to find it.

This work is an arrangement of stone lanterns that illuminate temples and shrines, Japanese gardens, and entrances.
You can enjoy the fantastic scenery unique to Art Aquarium, where goldfish swim in the light of lanterns.
The stone used for stone lanterns is "Kakougan 花崗岩"or“Mikageishi 御影石”, also known as granite. This granite is widely used in stone lanterns, stone bridges in gardens, and large buildings such as the Houses of Parliament.

A work with the motif of “Yukimi Shoji”.
The lower half of the Yukimi Shoji is an aquarium, and instead of a Japanese garden, you can get a glimpse of the world of goldfish.
Yukimi Shoji is a shoji with glass inlaid in the lower half of the shoji. You can view the snowy landscape of the garden from inside the room with the shoji doors closed. You can see them in Japanese houses and Japanese restaurants.

A group of works consisting of 24 square aquariums. Here you can admire swimming goldfish from above.
In the Edo period, before glass and acrylic became popular, common people kept goldfish in ceramic pots and tubs. For this reason, it was common to view goldfish from above. Enjoy the beauty of the silhouette of a goldfish or ripples on the water surface when viewed from above.
Also on display in this area are three types of goldfish designated as natural monuments of Japan: Tosa goldfish from Kochi prefecture, bullion goldfish from Aichi prefecture, and Nankin goldfish from Shimane prefecture.
Among them, the Tosakin, known for its beautiful tail fin, is also called the "queen of goldfish" and is also the family crest motif of Art Aquarium.

This piece is based on the temari ball, a traditional Japanese toy.
You can see the graceful appearance of the goldfish through the patterns woven from a variety of threads and between them.
The nursery rhyme and sound effects depicting children playing with Temari stimulate the emotions of Japanese people and create a nostalgic mood.

Japanese masks have been used since ancient times for a variety of purposes, including rituals.
In addition to the “Okina'' and “Hannya'' masks used in Noh theater, the museum has its own collection of masks from all over the world that are closely related to Japanese tradition, including the ``Okina'' and “Hannya'' masks used in Noh plays, as well as the “Hyottoko'' masks used in Dengaku, which was popular in rural areas.

This work is inspired by a polyhedral sphere folded with origami paper craft. Currently, about 300 goldfish swim in the Origamirium, which is one of the largest aquariums in the museum.
 "Tsurushi Kazari(Hanging decorations)" of goldfish made of origami are spread around the aquarium.The area in front of the aquarium, which is the symbol of our museum, is also a popular photo spot.

A path about 10 meters long, lined with aquariums shaped like lanterns.
The landscape of the path changes with the seasons, including pine trees, cherry blossoms, and bamboo.
The convex lens effect of the lantern tank magnifies the goldfish in the tank, allowing you to clearly see the goldfish's characteristics.
Enjoy the characteristics of each goldfish, such as the pattern of its scales, the shape of its tail and dorsal fins, and the changes in color.

It is an area inspired by a bamboo forest, surrounded by several cylindrical aquariums.
Enjoy the bamboo-shaped cylinder of water, bubbles, and goldfish swimming in the light.
This area is also a popular photo spot. You can enjoy commemorative photos and portrait installations.

An aquarium with a small heart-shaped window in the wall.
It looks like a heart-shaped aquarium, but this shape is called "inome" and has been a motif in Japan since ancient times to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune. Inome pattern is used in various places in architecture and art.
You can enjoy the collaboration between the artwork and the goldfish that spreads beyond the window.

A work created with the image of imaginary flowers blooming in the sky.
At our museum, we create aromas in each area that match the concept of each work. 
This aroma is an original aroma of the museum and can be purchased at the museum shop!

A collaborative work with Japanese flower arranger Shogo Kariyazaki.
Above the aquarium, which resembles a vase, each season's flowers, including Phalaenopsis orchids, are in full bloom, allowing you to feel the changing seasons. 

A gallery of illustrations drawn by creators for exhibition at our museum, with the theme of "Women and Goldfish/Koi(carp)." You can see the works of popular illustrators who are leading Japanese digital trends, such as Sun Setsuda and Tamimoon, who created the illustrations for singer "Ado". Collaborative works with artist "yama" and popular V tubers are also on display.

Enjoy collaborative works between Art Aquarium, creators, and artists.

This work is inspired by traditional Japanese lighting equipment.
The flame bag of the lamp that is lit and lit has a hemp leaf pattern, which is meant to ward off evil spirits.