In an Era Without Cameras, Obsessive Natural History Paintings Captured the Real Thing: A Comprehensive Exhibition of Hiroshi Aramata's Collection of "Birds" Drawn with 19th Century Longing, "Yearning for Wonder Birds: People Obsessed with Birds" Announced
Kadokawa Musashino Museum is hosting "Yearning for Wonder Birds: People Obsessed with Birds" from April 18 to September 28, 2026. This exhibition showcases Hiroshi Aramata's extensive collection of 19th-century natural history paintings depicting birds, exploring humanity's fascination with avian life from mythology to scientific study, featuring exquisite artwork and taxidermied specimens. The exhibition highlights the obsession and artistry of naturalists who meticulously documented birds before photography, aiming to recreate a "Cabinet of Curiosities."
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The Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation (Location: Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, Director: Koji Funatsu) will hold "Yearning for Wonder Birds: People Obsessed with Birds" at the Aramata Wonder Treasure Hall on the 4th floor of the Kadokawa Musashino Museum (Director: Akira Ikebe) within Tokorozawa Sakura Town, from Saturday, April 18, 2026, to Monday, September 28, 2026.
Exhibition Main Visual
■ Exhibiting a Natural History Painting Collection themed "Birds," which guided humans and brought civilization.
Hiroshi Aramata, who serves as an advisory board member for the Natural History Department of Kadokawa Musashino Museum, is also known as a scholar of natural history and published the monumental work "World Great Natural History Encyclopedia." His collection of natural history paintings, gathered during the compilation process, has now been donated to our museum. This exhibition introduces that natural history painting collection.
The theme is "Birds." Aramata states, "Humans, being the youngest born of all living things, tried to learn how to survive by observing the actions of plants and animals that were born before them." He adds, "The outcome of wars and the selection of land for building capitals were also taught by birds, and bird divination was used in the founding of Rome to decide who the first ruler would be." (Excerpted from the exhibition's "Greetings").
From ancient times, birds, which humans longed for, were treated as beings close to the gods in myths and legends. Furthermore, after the Age of Discovery, birds from all over the world were depicted as natural history paintings and became beloved as art. From birds in myths to birds recorded as academic subjects—we trace the changes in how humans have viewed birds through actual illustrated books.
This exhibition allows visitors to re-experience the gaze of people obsessed with birds through natural history paintings, while tracing the history of the fetishism that scholars seemed to possess for birds. At the venue, valuable natural history paintings, primarily published in the 19th century, will be exhibited, including François Levaillant's "Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de Paradis" (1801-06) and John Gould's "A Monograph of the Trochilidae" (1849–61).
■ Exhibition Highlights
● **New exquisite technique born from obsession makes hummingbirds shine with gold leaf.**
Jean-Baptiste Audubert (1759-1800), a French engraver and natural history painter, was intrigued by why hummingbird feathers shine so beautifully and worked to unravel this mystery. His obsession did not stop at theoretical research but extended to its reproduction in natural history paintings.
"Golden Bird, or Metallic Sheen" (1802-05)
In "Golden Bird, or Metallic Sheen" (1802-05), he devised a new technique by applying vibrant oil paints to the printed engraving and adding gold leaf using a stamping method to pursue the expression of luster and three-dimensionality. This exhibition displays natural history illustrations born from Audubert's obsession with their brilliance.
● **Natural history paintings where their past forms survive with higher resolution than photographs.**
Before cameras became widespread, scholars were obsessed with beautifully recording subjects, and it is said that the meticulously drawn natural history paintings were sometimes more beautiful than the real thing. You can see up close the forms of birds depicted with the details of their feathers and the sparkle of their plumage due to reflection.
● **A jumbled exhibition gathered in Hiroshi Aramata's "Cabinet of Curiosities (Wunderkammer)."**
In addition to approximately 120 natural history paintings, the exhibition is scheduled to display about 10 taxidermied specimens. Many of the illustrations have high artistic value, and related books, including Hiroshi Aramata's own works, will also be available. The "jumbled" space, boasting books, art, and natural history at Kadokawa Musashino Museum, is recreated within this exhibition. The exhibition space is designed to evoke a birdcage. Experience the breath of birds in an area where all knowledge is gathered.
【Exhibition Overview】
Exhibition Title: Yearning for Wonder Birds: People Obsessed with Birds
English Title: Birds: Fascinating Creatures, Marvels of Nature
Venue: Kadokawa Musashino Museum 4F Aramata Wonder Treasure Hall
Address: 3-31-3 Higashi-Tokorozawa Wada, Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, within Tokorozawa Sakura Town
Dates: Saturday, April 18, 2026 – Monday, September 28, 2026
Closed: Tuesdays, Monday, June 1 – Friday, June 5
(However, open on Tuesday, May 5 (Holiday), Tuesday, August 11 (Holiday), Tuesday, September 22 (Holiday))
Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (Last admission 17:30)
Exhibition Official Website: https://kadcul.com/event/261
Organizer: Kadokawa Musashino Museum (Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation)
Cooperation: The University Museum, The University of Tokyo
Ticket Prices (Tax Included): KCM Standard Ticket (including Book Theatre)
● Online Purchase (https://tickets.kadcul.com/) and same-day window purchase
Adults (University students and above): ¥1,400 / Junior high and high school students: ¥1,200 / Elementary school students: ¥1,000 / Preschoolers: Free
*This ticket also allows access to the museum's standard ticket areas (permanent exhibition areas).
*Depending on the exhibition schedule, some areas may not be accessible on certain dates.
*This exhibition can also be viewed with a "1DAY Passport" ticket. For details, please check the official website.
*Opening hours and closed days are subject to change. Please check the official website for the latest information and details.
*Exhibition content may be changed or canceled. Please understand in advance.
■ "About Kadokawa Musashino Museum"
A cultural complex facility merging a library, art museum, and museum (Director: Akira Ikebe).
The "Book Street," with its unique shelving arranged according to the nine contexts for understanding the world as proposed by the first director, Masao Matsuoka; the "Aramata Wonder Treasure Hall," supervised by naturalist Hiroshi Aramata; and the "Book Theatre," themed "Play with books, interact with books," these "Edit Towns" are the main areas of the museum. In the Book Theatre, projection mapping is displayed on a giant bookshelf of 8 meters in height surrounding 360 degrees.
©Kadokawa Musashino Museum
Additionally, the "Manga and Light Novel Library," featuring manga and light novels from numerous publishers, and the "Grand Gallery," where special exhibitions are held, offer various "mixes" as a "Museum for Imagination and Play with Anima," as advocated by Matsuoka.
Architectural design supervision by Kengo Kuma, art director by Shingo Kanno.
Official Website: https://kadcul.com/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Kadokawa_Museum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kadokawa_culture_museum
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kadokawaculturemuseum
Inquiries from the general public: 0570-017-396 (Reception hours: 10:00-18:00)
■ About Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation
The Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation carries out various projects to realize the foundation's objective of "contributing to the promotion of Japanese culture," such as awards for literary achievements, grants for literary publications, support for literary research and publications, grants for the promotion of film arts, and the collection, preservation, and exhibition of literary and film materials.
Official Website: http://www.kadokawa-zaidan.or.jp/
Exhibition Main Visual
■ Exhibiting a Natural History Painting Collection themed "Birds," which guided humans and brought civilization.
Hiroshi Aramata, who serves as an advisory board member for the Natural History Department of Kadokawa Musashino Museum, is also known as a scholar of natural history and published the monumental work "World Great Natural History Encyclopedia." His collection of natural history paintings, gathered during the compilation process, has now been donated to our museum. This exhibition introduces that natural history painting collection.
The theme is "Birds." Aramata states, "Humans, being the youngest born of all living things, tried to learn how to survive by observing the actions of plants and animals that were born before them." He adds, "The outcome of wars and the selection of land for building capitals were also taught by birds, and bird divination was used in the founding of Rome to decide who the first ruler would be." (Excerpted from the exhibition's "Greetings").
From ancient times, birds, which humans longed for, were treated as beings close to the gods in myths and legends. Furthermore, after the Age of Discovery, birds from all over the world were depicted as natural history paintings and became beloved as art. From birds in myths to birds recorded as academic subjects—we trace the changes in how humans have viewed birds through actual illustrated books.
This exhibition allows visitors to re-experience the gaze of people obsessed with birds through natural history paintings, while tracing the history of the fetishism that scholars seemed to possess for birds. At the venue, valuable natural history paintings, primarily published in the 19th century, will be exhibited, including François Levaillant's "Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de Paradis" (1801-06) and John Gould's "A Monograph of the Trochilidae" (1849–61).
■ Exhibition Highlights
● **New exquisite technique born from obsession makes hummingbirds shine with gold leaf.**
Jean-Baptiste Audubert (1759-1800), a French engraver and natural history painter, was intrigued by why hummingbird feathers shine so beautifully and worked to unravel this mystery. His obsession did not stop at theoretical research but extended to its reproduction in natural history paintings.
"Golden Bird, or Metallic Sheen" (1802-05)
In "Golden Bird, or Metallic Sheen" (1802-05), he devised a new technique by applying vibrant oil paints to the printed engraving and adding gold leaf using a stamping method to pursue the expression of luster and three-dimensionality. This exhibition displays natural history illustrations born from Audubert's obsession with their brilliance.
● **Natural history paintings where their past forms survive with higher resolution than photographs.**
Before cameras became widespread, scholars were obsessed with beautifully recording subjects, and it is said that the meticulously drawn natural history paintings were sometimes more beautiful than the real thing. You can see up close the forms of birds depicted with the details of their feathers and the sparkle of their plumage due to reflection.
● **A jumbled exhibition gathered in Hiroshi Aramata's "Cabinet of Curiosities (Wunderkammer)."**
In addition to approximately 120 natural history paintings, the exhibition is scheduled to display about 10 taxidermied specimens. Many of the illustrations have high artistic value, and related books, including Hiroshi Aramata's own works, will also be available. The "jumbled" space, boasting books, art, and natural history at Kadokawa Musashino Museum, is recreated within this exhibition. The exhibition space is designed to evoke a birdcage. Experience the breath of birds in an area where all knowledge is gathered.
【Exhibition Overview】
Exhibition Title: Yearning for Wonder Birds: People Obsessed with Birds
English Title: Birds: Fascinating Creatures, Marvels of Nature
Venue: Kadokawa Musashino Museum 4F Aramata Wonder Treasure Hall
Address: 3-31-3 Higashi-Tokorozawa Wada, Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, within Tokorozawa Sakura Town
Dates: Saturday, April 18, 2026 – Monday, September 28, 2026
Closed: Tuesdays, Monday, June 1 – Friday, June 5
(However, open on Tuesday, May 5 (Holiday), Tuesday, August 11 (Holiday), Tuesday, September 22 (Holiday))
Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (Last admission 17:30)
Exhibition Official Website: https://kadcul.com/event/261
Organizer: Kadokawa Musashino Museum (Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation)
Cooperation: The University Museum, The University of Tokyo
Ticket Prices (Tax Included): KCM Standard Ticket (including Book Theatre)
● Online Purchase (https://tickets.kadcul.com/) and same-day window purchase
Adults (University students and above): ¥1,400 / Junior high and high school students: ¥1,200 / Elementary school students: ¥1,000 / Preschoolers: Free
*This ticket also allows access to the museum's standard ticket areas (permanent exhibition areas).
*Depending on the exhibition schedule, some areas may not be accessible on certain dates.
*This exhibition can also be viewed with a "1DAY Passport" ticket. For details, please check the official website.
*Opening hours and closed days are subject to change. Please check the official website for the latest information and details.
*Exhibition content may be changed or canceled. Please understand in advance.
■ "About Kadokawa Musashino Museum"
A cultural complex facility merging a library, art museum, and museum (Director: Akira Ikebe).
The "Book Street," with its unique shelving arranged according to the nine contexts for understanding the world as proposed by the first director, Masao Matsuoka; the "Aramata Wonder Treasure Hall," supervised by naturalist Hiroshi Aramata; and the "Book Theatre," themed "Play with books, interact with books," these "Edit Towns" are the main areas of the museum. In the Book Theatre, projection mapping is displayed on a giant bookshelf of 8 meters in height surrounding 360 degrees.
©Kadokawa Musashino Museum
Additionally, the "Manga and Light Novel Library," featuring manga and light novels from numerous publishers, and the "Grand Gallery," where special exhibitions are held, offer various "mixes" as a "Museum for Imagination and Play with Anima," as advocated by Matsuoka.
Architectural design supervision by Kengo Kuma, art director by Shingo Kanno.
Official Website: https://kadcul.com/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Kadokawa_Museum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kadokawa_culture_museum
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kadokawaculturemuseum
Inquiries from the general public: 0570-017-396 (Reception hours: 10:00-18:00)
■ About Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation
The Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation carries out various projects to realize the foundation's objective of "contributing to the promotion of Japanese culture," such as awards for literary achievements, grants for literary publications, support for literary research and publications, grants for the promotion of film arts, and the collection, preservation, and exhibition of literary and film materials.
Official Website: http://www.kadokawa-zaidan.or.jp/