Kawasaki City Museum (川崎市市民ミュージアム Kawasaki-shi Shimin Myūjiamu) is located in Todoroki, Kawasaki, and was inaugurated in 1988. It promotes itself as a cultural complex of history and art with the basic theme of "The City and its People". The permanent exhibition focuses on the history and the progress of the city and displays historical, archaeological artefacts as well as exhibits of folklore. The modern and contemporary aspects of the city's development are highlighted in temporary exhibitions of posters, photographs, animation, and videos by artists inspired by the urban development of the city. The current special exhibitions (October 2019) deal with the "old life and household tools in the Taishō and Show era" as well as the famous manga artist Tagawa Sugawa (1899-1989), the father of the well-known character "Norakuro".
The historic artefacts span from the Jomon Period to modern times and also focus on more tragic chapters like the American aerial bombardments during World War II and industrial pollution that plagued the local population until the 1970s.
The Thomas Converter is installed in the front garden of the museum and was used between 1938 and 1957 to enrich steel with phosphorous. It was designed and created in 1937 by Nippon Kokan (NKK, 日本鋼管株式会社 Nippon Kōkan Kabushiki-gaisha), a company that merged with Kawasaki Steel Corporation (川崎製鉄株式会社 Kawasaki Seitetsu Kabushiki-gaisha) to form present-day JFE Holdings. The Thomas Converter contributed significantly to the development of Japan's steel industry and is designated a Modern Industrial Heritage of Japan.
Sculpture by Fukuda Shigeo (福田繁雄, 1932-2009), "Time 2001, 2002, 2003...": time flows from the past to the present, then to the future; although it is invisible, this is Fukuda's visualisation of ts conception.
Haniwa found in the Kawasaki area.
Townsfolk, merchants, and servants.
Other facilities include a theatre for film screenings, art galleries, a museum library with 50,000 books on history, art, and photography, as well as a museum shop and a restaurant.
More photographies in the Kawasaki City Museum album.
The historic artefacts span from the Jomon Period to modern times and also focus on more tragic chapters like the American aerial bombardments during World War II and industrial pollution that plagued the local population until the 1970s.
The Thomas Converter is installed in the front garden of the museum and was used between 1938 and 1957 to enrich steel with phosphorous. It was designed and created in 1937 by Nippon Kokan (NKK, 日本鋼管株式会社 Nippon Kōkan Kabushiki-gaisha), a company that merged with Kawasaki Steel Corporation (川崎製鉄株式会社 Kawasaki Seitetsu Kabushiki-gaisha) to form present-day JFE Holdings. The Thomas Converter contributed significantly to the development of Japan's steel industry and is designated a Modern Industrial Heritage of Japan.
The Grande Promenade
The Grande promenade is a huge atrium that is 23 metres high. It displays several sculptures that epitomise the "City and its People" and is also a venue for concerts and performances.Sculpture by Fukuda Shigeo (福田繁雄, 1932-2009), "Time 2001, 2002, 2003...": time flows from the past to the present, then to the future; although it is invisible, this is Fukuda's visualisation of ts conception.
Gallery of History and Folklore
The Gallery of History and Folklore comprises the permanent exhibition for the museum's collection of archaeological, historical, and folkloristic exhibits. Many exhibits are rotated on a monthly basis.Haniwa found in the Kawasaki area.
Townsfolk, merchants, and servants.
Other facilities include a theatre for film screenings, art galleries, a museum library with 50,000 books on history, art, and photography, as well as a museum shop and a restaurant.
More photographies in the Kawasaki City Museum album.
Link:
- 川崎市市民ミュージアム (Official website in Japanese and English)