The Japanese Association of Museums (JAM) officially celebrated the AKASHI MUNICIPAL PLANETARIUM (AMP, Akashi-City Hyogo Prefecture) as the winner of the JAM Award 2023 at the opening ceremony of the 71st National Museum Convention held on November 15, 2023.The JAM Award was established in 2020 to commemorate the 90th anniversary with the aim of honoring institutions that have made significant contributions to the promotion of museums in Japan and achieved outstanding results, serving as models for other museums. In principle, the winner of the award is selected from among JAM members. The selection committee, consisting of academics and museum experts, selects the winners, and the JAM’s Board decide on.
The AMP is the museum located right on the meridian of Japan Standard Time (JST) at 135 degrees east longitude, which makes it one of the most unique planetariums in the world. Since its opening in 1960, the museum has been popular among the residents as a symbolic icon for Akashi City or Town of Time, as well as a cultural hub in the region for over 60 years. The facility, which has an unique structure, consisting of a four-story reinforced concrete building, a round planetarium with a diameter of 20 meters and a clock tower of 54 meter’s high, was designated as a Tangible Registered Cultural Property in 2010, and is known as the oldest planetarium in Japan to be still in operation with a planetarium at the time of its establishment (Carl Zeiss Jena, Germany).
The AMP's history starts more than half a century before it was built. In the 19th century, the International Meridian Conference was held and the meridian line through Greenwich Observatory in England was designated as the prime meridian. Following that Conference, the time on the 135 degrees of east longitude, which is nine hours ahead of Greenwich, was set as Japan Standard Time (JST).
SIGOSENGER
The JST meridian happens to run through Akashi City. Educators in Akashi saw this coincidence as an opportunity to get people interested in time. They constructed the meridian monument in 1910. Later, they made two astronomical observations with the help of researchers from Kyoto University to correct the monument's position. These episodes have created momentum among the citizens of Akashi in their desire for a museum of astronomy. It was finally realized in 1960. It were installed that a clock tower meaning a monument to the JST meridian, an exhibition room on the theme of time and space, and a planetarium which was rare in Japan at the time. People's interest in space was growing at that time, and many visitors came to the museum. As a result, Akashi City became known throughout Japan as the "City of Time," just like Greenwich Observatory.
However, not all was well. In 1995, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurred. Akashi City was severely damaged by the quake. The AMP was severely damaged, and consideration was given to permanently canceling its activities as a museum. Fortunately, the Zeiss planetarium projector survived. People strongly hoped for the restoration of the AMP. For these reasons, the decision was made to renovate the museum. The damage to the building was so severe that restoration work required three years. The museum reopened in 1998. Many people visited the renovated museum and were delighted by the starlight of the planetarium. We learned that museums play an important role in symbolizing the progress made during the reconstruction phase.
After a few years, as the renewal fervor cooled, visitor numbers began to decline. So, we began to develop educational programs. The key point is to generate interest, but that interest differs from person to person. We created programs that did not target an indefinite number of people, but rather were designed with specific users in mind. For example, we held lectures for the elderly who have free time on weekday mornings, and planetarium concerts for music lovers. Particularly unique and highly successful was an educational program for children featuring the planetarium's heroes. Generally, children are familiar with TV programs featuring heroes. Inspired by this, the curators disguised themselves as heroes and appeared in the planetarium. The children were able to learn while having fun by taking an astronomy quiz and facing off against the villains. The hero's name is "SHIGOSENGER" which means "Meridian Hero," and he first appeared in 2005 and has since become very popular. It has become one of the most popular programs at AMP. The character became widely familiar to the public, now used as an official character of the Akashi City government.
Our museum offers many other unique events. One popular event for adults is the "Sleep Well Planetarium. In the planetarium, people often fall asleep. This program takes advantage of the fact that planetariums make people sleepy. Because of the humor of the event, many people are interested and participate. Many participants come with pillows and sleep comfortably under the starry sky while listening to pleasant background music and explanations. As a result, many people have come to love planetariums, become repeat visitors, and eventually become fans of astronomy. The first step is very important.
The first "Sleep in a Planetarium" event was held in Akashi in 2011. The number of facilities holding the same event has been increasing every year, and by 2022, more than 50 planetariums in Japan will be holding the event. It is nice to sleep while gazing at the stars in the sky. We hope that this wonderfully relaxing event will be held in planetariums around the world. We provide opportunities for people to learn more about a discipline after they have developed an interest in it. Collaboration is an important part of this process. We have many programs in collaboration with universities and research institutions. Many researchers are fans of SIGOSENGER. They come to our lectures looking forward to collaborating with SIGOSENGER and enjoy telling us about the cutting edge. This collaboration gives curators the opportunity to learn more, creating a virtuous cycle. The members of the Star Friends Society are also active in socializing and volunteering. The AMP is a place where people can expand their connections.
The old Zeiss Planetarium is at the center of these activities. It demands a high degree of knowledge and skilled manipulation by the curators, but it is the driving force that brings out their abilities and ingenuity. Fortunately, the planetarium is in very good condition. We intend to continue to use it with great care. It is also a historical document of science and technology and a symbol of earthquake recovery.
Akashi City's small meridian monument has become a unique museum over the past 50 years. The museum's more than 60-year history since its opening has included the critical situation of the earthquake disaster. Today, AMP has come to have multifaceted value as an educational facility, a tourist attraction, and an identity for the local community. Our museum is the cultural center of the "City of Time," built over a period of 100 years. We will continue our efforts to ensure that our activities are sustainable into the future.