■万華鏡200年展 
期間：1月30日(土)～2月7日(日) 
会場：メディアセブン ワークスタジオB 
住所：埼玉県川口市川口1-1-1 キュポ・ラ7F 
時間：平日10:00～21:00、土日9:00～18:00 
料金：無料 
電話：048-227-7622 

■日本万華鏡博物館 
住所：埼玉県川口市幸町2-1-18-101 
電話：048-255-2422※開館10:00～、予約制

New Start of Japan Kaleidoscope Museum

submitted by Junko Aragane

In September 2012, Shinichi Ohkuma opened his new private kaleidoscope museum in his hometown, Kawaguchi city, Saitama prefecture which is a suburb of Tokyo.

In this museum visitors learn about kaleidoscope history, then see the valuable kaleidoscopes of the 19th century, toy scopes of the 20th century and art kaleidoscopes of the 21st century. His collection covers one of the very first kaleidoscopes by Sir David Brewster, antique scopes of historical value as well as nostalgic cardboard kaleidoscopes of the earlier age.

There are also very important modern kaleidoscopes which are part of kaleidoscope history. Among the exhibited items there is a very valuable kaleidoscope made in Japan. It is known that the kaleidoscope was introduced to Japan in as early as 1819, only 3 years after the Brewster’s invention.  Of course it was a rare item and probably enjoyed by only a small number of people.  And someone was commissioned to make one in Japanese style, which was brought to the US. Mr. Ohkuma found this piece on the internet auction site and got it. It is one of the oldest kaleidoscopes made in Japan.

One of the most precious kaleidoscopes is a jewelry kaleidoscope made in France in the 1840’s. It is exciting to imagine French noble woman wearing this.

Mr. Ohkuma has a large collection of cardboard kaleidoscopes both made in the US and in Japan.  There were many such kaleidoscopes that were exported from Japan to the US before and after the World War II.  In Japan we lost all these toy kaleidoscopes during war time so those that he found on the auction site or brought from the US are also very important. 
 
There are several kaleidoscopes made in Europe, which are rather rare these days. 

As Cozy Baker’s beloved home museum is now closed, Mr. Ohkuma hopes that his museum remains as the place to show kaleidoscope’s 200 year history. 

The other attractive kaleidoscopes of this museum are the collection of “Bears” Kaleidoscopes, which Mr. Okuma commissioned from several artists.  All of these kaleidoscopes have his company’s trademark ”bear” somewhere and each one represents the artist’s original idea and friendship. They are really enjoyable.