A Night (Actually a Day) at the Museum

[Real G]

During my recent trip to Japan, I took my friends to the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno, Tokyo.  I have visited the museum on several occasions, so my photo coverage was not extensive this time around.

flic.kr/s/aHBqjBQfSb

There was a Zero-Sen the last time I was there, but it was replaced by a 1/2 scale model of the Shinkai 6500 deep sea exploration sub and a 1/100 model of the Chikyu ocean research vessel fitted with a core sampling drilling rig.

They also had a full-sized replica of the Hayabusa spacecraft that retrieved samples from an asteroid.  I neglected to photograph this, as my friend and I were engaged in a deep conversation regarding rocket engine and spacecraft design.  A docent approached me afterwards and inquired what language we were speaking in.  When I replied it was English, he commented that it sounded like some unknown foreign language.  Well, we WERE talking rocket science after all.  

The museum has a lot more to offer, so if anyone is in the Tokyo area, it is worth checking out.

[Tojo72]

Sounds pretty cool,was wondering,are there any military museums in Japan with WWII equipment,or were they required to get rid of sll that stuff.

[Real G]

Tojo,

In the Tokyo region, there are a couple:

The JGSDF Camp Nerima Museum:
www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/eae/1d/special/siryou.html
Reservations ahead of time are required.

The Yushukan Museum at the Yasukuni Shrine:
www.yasukuni.or.jp/english/yushukan/index.html
I believe this is where the world's last Yokosuka Suisei (Judy) resides.

The Mikasa Battleship, one of the only pre-war dreadnoughts still in existence:
www.kinenkan-mikasa.or.jp/


Further away from Tokyo there is the JASDF Airpark at Hamamatsu Air Base:
www.mod.go.jp/asdf/airpark/


And waaaaay past Tokyo, closer to Hiroshima in the south, there is the Yamato Museum:
yamato-museum.com/


I am sure there are others, but these are the ones I am aware of.

[Tojo72]

Thanks,not that I'm going,but I was wondering how tbey felt about that stuff.

[Real G]

Tojo,

Well the Yasukuni Shrine is where the Japanese PM and others visit annually. The only ones who get really upset are China and Korea. The shrine is dedicated to those who died in war up to 1945, so it is a political hot button in Asian politics.

And the Yamato is still hugely popular. Heck, they stuck a rocket engine on it in the 1970s and sent it on a yearlong quest to save Earth from alien invaders. 😁

But seriously, they don’t like to publicly talk about the war. Many who returned from WW II were stigmatized and considered dishonorable for losing and yet returning alive. That’s a pretty harsh homecoming.

[keavdog]

That's pretty neat. Now I see where my T-Rex model came from Hope the do the triceratops.(not the limex one)

[Real G]

Nov 1, 2024 16:54:36 GMT -5 keavdog said:

That's pretty neat. Now I see where my T-Rex model came from Hope the do the triceratops.(not the limex one)

Limex is another example of good intentions producing an inferior product. Bandai has also tried using recycled runners to make kits molded in black, which I personally think is great sonce I usually black base my models anyway.

[spook]

Very cool pictures 
The Dinosaur 🦖 were cool !

[Real G]

Nov 1, 2024 19:18:42 GMT -5 spook said:

Very cool pictures 
The Dinosaur 🦖 were cool !

My first exposure to life-sized dinosaur skeletons was at the Ueno Museum.  When I first saw them, I was filled with a sense of awe, like being a 5-year old all over again.  OK so I had a limited experience childhood.

[tcoat]

Nov 1, 2024 19:30:32 GMT -5 Real G said:

Nov 1, 2024 19:18:42 GMT -5 spook said:

Very cool pictures 
The Dinosaur 🦖 were cool !

My first exposure to life-sized dinosaur skeletons was at the Ueno Museum.  When I first saw them, I was filled with a sense of awe, like being a 5-year old all over again.  OK so I had a limited experience childhood.

[gamera977]

Oh wow, those are great photos G, I've got to get over there someday...

[dodgy]

Nov 1, 2024 16:49:21 GMT -5 Real G said:

Tojo,

Well the Yasukuni Shrine is where the Japanese PM and others visit annually. The only ones who get really upset are China and Korea. The shrine is dedicated to those who died in war up to 1945, so it is a political hot button in Asian politics.

And the Yamato is still hugely popular. Heck, they stuck a rocket engine on it in the 1970s and sent it on a yearlong quest to save Earth from alien invaders. 😁

But seriously, they don’t like to publicly talk about the war. Many who returned from WW II were stigmatized and considered dishonorable for losing and yet returning alive. That’s a pretty harsh homecoming.

As far as the rest of the world is concerned, Australia's role in military history is pretty insignificant. In most cases photos and reports of Aussies in WWI & WWII were labelled as 'British troops'. Outside of Australia very little is known about our involvement in war, be it the Boer War or the sand pit. In 1942/3 there was a real fear that we would be invaded by the IJA. Sydney Harbour was attacked by midget subs and shelled by its mother sub. Darwin was repeatedly bombed and Broome & Townsville were also attacked. After the war the stories of the treatment of our POW's aroused significant hatred toward anything Japanese. For the WWII generation and their children, that hatred went deep. Of course it was made easier to hate because of the significant cultural and physical differences. However, as an adult and a veteran with a strong interest in military history, I began to read. Initially my reading was focused on the Australian experience, but one particular book looked at both sides. The book was titled 'A Barstard Of A Place' and covered the campaigns on the Kokoda Track, Sanandana, Milne Bay, Buna And Gona. It's a hard book to read. It's brutal and pulls no punches, but, it tells both sides of the story. For the first time I was exposed to the Japanese side of the conflict, their ideology, training and personal experiences. It was an eye opener for me. The Japanese soldier became a person, with real fears, dreams and foibles. I read Oba, Samurai and others that were focused on the Japanese experience., and then I read Flyboys by James Bradley and I found I could no longer hate. It still stuns me to think of how many young Japanese boys went to New Guinea and how few returned and how they suffered for their beliefs. Whatever their nation or beliefs, for those that serve their country and give their lives, rest in peace. Lest We Forget.

[keavdog]

Jeeze Flyboys was brutal - can't see how that would give anyone cause to capitulate. Insane commanders assuming they were going to die at Chi Chi Jima because of what was going on at Iwo. Cannibalism....wow....not sure I get you there Dodgy.
As far as ANZAC respect - the Lighthorse at Beersheba was balls out - great story of a brave charge. And then there's Gallipoli... Those are just the couple I'm aware of.