Revitalizing Summer Break! Special temporary exhibition "Tired? Reshape your rest-style"
Find the mechanisms of tiredness and personalized recovery tips
The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan, Director: Chieko Asakawa) will host the 10th special temporary exhibition in its "Mirai can NOW" series, entitled "Tired? Reshape your rest-style" from July 16 (Wed) to September 15 (Mon/Holiday). This is an interactive opportunity to explore ways to better cope with "tiredness," something everyone experiences. Discover your own way to rest and recover during the summer vacation, and escape from a life dominated by "tiredness.”
In Japan, tiredness is such a common phenomenon that it's considered a national affliction. In a survey of 100,000 adults, approximately 78% responded that they "feel tired"*1, and in a survey of children, about 52% of middle school students reported experiencing tiredness lasting more than one month*2. In recent years, particularly with post-COVID syndrome causing pathological-fatigue (a condition requiring medical intervention as it doesn't improve with simple rest), research on tiredness has become increasingly active.
The exhibition begins by explaining how "tiredness" and "the feeling of tiredness" develop, their mechanisms, and measurement methods. Visitors learn about the body's condition when feeling tired. The latter half of the exhibition is an experiential zone to find your own suitable way to rest. Everyone has different recovery methods - lounging, physical activity, cooking, enjoying fan activities, and more. Try a wide variety of healing ideas to determine the perfect recovery method for you. Finally, by sharing and comparing your own resting style with other visitors, you might discover unexpected methods of relaxation.
(*1) Japan Recovery Association "Japan's Fatigue Status 2024" - "Recovery (Rest/Anti-Fatigue) White Paper 2024 Report" Vol. 1
(*2) Yodogawa Ward "Child's Sleep Custom Improvement Support Project" (survey conducted by Osaka Metropolitan University)
Exhibition Overview
- Title
- Tired? Reshape your rest-style
- Period
-
July 16 (Wed) - September 15 (Mon/Holiday), 2025
*Closed on September 2 (Tue) and September 9 (Tue)
- Venue
- National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), 1st Floor Symbol Zone
- Target Audience
- Everyone
- Admission
- Free
- Organizer
- National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
Main Exhibits
1. First in Tokyo museums! Forest Bathing Anytime, Anywhere
"Digital Forest Bathing uralaa"
Experience the sensation of being in real natural surroundings even in the city with "Digital Forest Bathing." Using large multi-screens, sounds, and scents, uralaa recreates the experience of being surrounded by nature indoors. This experience provides physiological and psychological improvement similar to that of actual forest bathing. (Provided by: Forest Digital Inc.)
２．A new experience of wearing sleep
"ZZZN SLEEP APPAREL SYSTEM"
An apparel system that records biometric data such as sleep state, stress levels, and heart rate, providing an optimal sleep environment tailored to each individual. It offers a new "polyphasic/power nap experience" that allows you to sleep regardless of location whenever you want, through music, lighting, and mode changes according to sleep environment and physical condition. (Provided by: NTT DX Partners / Konel Inc.)
３．Using "motor empathy" to make deep breathing a habit
"Deep Breathing Inducing Device Shinkokyu"
This is a device that naturally encourages deep breathing through unique movements and sounds. It’s designed to subtly promote breathing by applying the phenomenon called "motor empathy," where one feels the movements of people or objects they observe. Confirmed effects include stress reduction, concentration recovery, and sleep improvement. (Provided by: Shinkokyu Ltd.)
４．"Qoobo"
"Qoobo"
This is a cushion-type therapy robot with a tail. Its fluffy texture and tail responds to petting and provides comfort similar to a pet. Psychological effects have been demonstrated, such as increased positive responses when used in elderly care settings. (Provided by: Yukai Engineering Inc.)
Message from the Supervisor
Kazuhiro Kondo (MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Fatigue Science, The Jikei University School of Medicine)
While everyone experiences tiredness in daily life, many people may not know much about the mechanisms of tiredness or proper recovery methods. Through this exhibition, I hope visitors will learn about the mechanisms of everyday tiredness and appropriate countermeasures by introducing cutting-edge information on tiredness and recovery.
<Profile> Dr. Kondo is a pecialist in fatigue science, engaged in research to elucidate the mechanisms of physiological tiredness and invented a method to measure tiredness using viruses as indicators. He is currently at the forefront of tiredness-related research, including investigating the causes of post-COVID-19 syndrome.