Hirase

Within the hall of the museum down-stairs, Japanese specimens were systematically exhibited according to the latest classification. Owing to limited space, over 1,000 species of native land shells and nearly 7,000 foreign were interchangeably replaced and exhibited from time to time.

On the walls around were hung illustrations of living shells, designs, and maps of the distribution of shells. The cases in the middle of the hall contained specimens preserved in alcohol or formalin, transparent specimens, swarms, parasites, symbiosis, specimens illustrating protective coloration, mimicry, variation, useful and noxious species, boring shells, monsters, specimens showing stages of development, and many other exhibits that provided valuable reference.

Part of the Upper Hall

In the hall upstairs were shown cameo cuttings, cross sections of shells, polished shells, shell-buttons, pearls, all sorts of fancy shell works both from abroad and Japan. Wooden, hard and lacquer wares in which shells were used were on display. There were rare species, monsters and fossils from all over the world. Shells for the shell game "Kaioi" or "Kaiawase" were displayed as well as busts of natives adorned with shell necklaces. On the walls were royal songs written by Emperor Meiji, paintings of shells by noted artist, portraits of conchologists from around the world.

Children's Exhibit-Room

It was Yoichiro's great regret that no city or town in Japan provided any suitable place, both interesting and instructive, for the pastime of young people. He therefore opened a children's room as the first step in his plan of establishing a children's museum. There were to be exhibited all sorts of dolls and toys, representing the manners and customs of every country, special products, landscape post-cards and various models. The models of the sea bottom and shell gathering that were on display illustrated the beginning and nature of his purpose.

Store-Room and Laboratory

Part of the Sales Department

The Museum Garden

At the present time, the museum building was not large enough to exhibit the whole collection, of which only one-third was shown. Their plans were to ad an additional building sometime in the future so they kept this space unoccupied at the back of the building for that purpose. Unfortunately due to illness and financial expenditure the second building never developed. Flower beds and artificial hills occupied the site.