This exhibition has ended.
This exhibition, organized in conjunction with our friends at Touken Ranbu, combines science with entertainment to create an enjoyable way to learn. We look at how Japan’s current technologies and culture are spun off from Japanese swords, and how to connect these swords to the future.
The site is divided into five areas, each covering a unique aspect of the topic—you’ll learn how Japanese swords are made, see real Japanese swords, and get a hands-on swordplay experience. In addition, you can see the "Imanotsurugi," a famous sword that is said to have been the guardian sword of Minamoto no Yoshitsune; it was made specially for this exhibition, made to look how it is described in the stories.
Touken Ranbu ONLINE launched in 2015 as a sword-training simulation game where you take charge of the “Touken Danshi,” Japanese swords that have been transformed into swordsmen, as you work to protect history. Touken Ranbu has proven popular in a variety of formats, with a musical in the same year it was released, stage and anime adaptations in 2016, a live-action movie in 2019, and even a kabuki performance in 2023. This is the first time a science museum has fielded a Touken Ranbu exhibition.
Exhibition contents
The exhibition site is divided into five areas. The navigator for this exhibition is Kyunosuke, who will guide visitors through the exhibition. Kyunosuke is one of the "Kuda-Gitsune" who help and guide the Touken Danshi. He loves Japanese swords and is always eager to learn.
Kyunosuke’s dream is to intensely study and become a top sword scholar! Accompany him on his learning journey and together, enjoy finding out more about Japanese Swords.
Entrance
At the entrance, you’ll receive an original pamphlet that you can fill out as you go through the exhibit, helping you learn more about Japanese swords. In the first zone, you can enjoy a video where Kyunosuke introduces you to the universe of Touken Ranbu and to the exhibition.
The 1st room: What are Japanese Swords?
In addition to a corner explaining the types and special characteristics of Japanese swords, you can take quizzes to get to know the basics, including the different eras, regions, swordsmiths, production areas, and more.
The 2nd room: The Making of a Japanese Sword
Learn and experience the five steps in the process of making a Japanese sword in a blacksmith's workshop through stagings that use sounds and images. This area also explains the changes that take place in the materials at a chemical level.
The 3rd room: Japanese Swords Up Close
In the “Japanese Sword Appreciation Dojo,” you can have a hands-on experience with replica swords made to look just like the real thing, seeing how they look and learning the names of the different parts. “Caring for a Japanese Sword” shows how to handle a Japanese sword, and the depth of care involved. You can observe Japanese swords from all angles, feeling their length and weight, and see the underside of the sword as well as its shimmering surface. In addition, we also introduce our research on Japanese swords, including the characteristics of different periods, production areas, and regions, performed via non-destructive testing, a method of inspecting Japanese swords without damaging them.
The 4th room: Japanese Sword Experience
We’ve used motion capture to measure the sword techniques of a master from the Tennen-Rishin-Ryu Shieikan, a dojo for sword fighting. Using technology that combines this motion capture data with 3D images of the Touken Danshi swordsmen, the master's movements are recreated here to demonstrate sword techniques. In addition, we analyze the measured data and explain it from a sports science point of view. After watching the demonstration and doing a bit of practice, you can experience sword-fighting first-hand in a game that uses your real body movements.
Sword-making Project: Imanotsurugi
This sword is a swordsmith's imagined rendering of the Japanese sword "Imanotsurugi," said to have been the guardian sword of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and the short sword with which he killed himself. It will be shown for the first time at this exhibition.
The last room: Japanese Swords and the Future
Prominent figures involved with Touken Ranbu appear in episodes introducing their "Important things to pass on to the future." Finally, in the last part of the exhibition, after learning about Japanese swords and reflecting on what you’ve seen, you’ll have a chance to make a post about the things that you want to pass on to the future.
Overview
- Title
- Special Exhibition “Discovering Treasures from Japanese Sword and Future Exhibition with TOUKEN RANBU”
- Period
- Wednesday, July 10 to Monday, October 14, 2024
- Closed days
- 7/16(Tue.), 9/3(Tue.), 9/10(Tue.), 9/17(Tue.), 9/24(Tue.), 10/1(Tue.), 10/8(Tue.)
- Time
- 10:00-17:00 *Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
- Venue
- Special Exhibition Zone 1F, Miraikan
- Admission fee
-
Adults (19 years or older): 2,400 yen (2,100 yen)
Junior (elementary school students to 18 years old): 1,600 yen (1,300 yen)
Preschool (4 years or older, not pre-elementary school child): 500 yen (400 yen)
*Admission is free for children under 3 years old
*For group of 8 people or more, admission fees in ( ) are applied
*Permanent exhibitions are included in admission
*The Dome Theater costs extra (reservations required)
*Admission is free for holders of a disability certificate, and for one companion
- Organizer
- Miraikan, Discovering Treasures from Japanese Sword and Future Exhibition with TOUKEN RANBU Production Committee
- Supported by
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit, YURIKAMOME
- In cooperation with
- TOKYU RAILWAYS
What is Touken Ranbu?
What is Touken Ranbu?
In the year 2205, “Historical Revisionists” aiming to change history launch an attack on the past. In a bid to prevent this, the Government of Time dispatches Saniwa sages to each era. These Saniwa sages have the ability to awaken the minds and hearts of slumbering objects, and to give them the strength to fight on their own. Using this ability to create Touken Danshi, human forms of “tsukumogami” sword spirits, the Saniwa sages travel with them into the past.
Touken Ranbu ONLINE
Developed and operated by EXNOA LLC, using a universe, scenario, and character designs by NITRO PLUS, the PC browser and smartphone app game Touken Ranbu ONLINE is a sword-training simulation game in which you lead Touken Dashi, famous swords transformed into warriors, to protect history. More than 13 million players have enjoyed the game since its launch in January 2015.
Centered around the game, there are as many “Inner Citadels” as there are Saniwa sages (players), and Touken Ranbu now encompasses a media mix that includes musicals, plays, anime, movies, comics, Kabuki, and more, telling interwoven stories from many different Inner Citadels.
Touken Danshi
Swords like the Wakizashi and Tachi are born destined to fight. Lying at the heart of Japanese swords, they are not simply weapons but highly prized works of art. Born destined to fight, the Touken Danshi swordsmen dance through the battlefield with strength and beauty.