'Serai' Latest Issue Features 'A New Way to Enjoy Zoos and Aquariums,' Exploring Advanced Facilities' Efforts in Species Conservation and Environmental Protection.
Shogakukan's magazine 'Serai' June 2026 issue, released on May 9, features 'A New Way to Enjoy Zoos and Aquariums,' highlighting advanced facilities' efforts in species conservation and environmental protection. It also includes a special feature on mastering coffee.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 18:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 9, 2026 at 10:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 10:08 (6 min after Collected)
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'Serai' June 2026 Issue
36th Anniversary Summer Solstice Commemorative Issue
Released May 9, 2026
Price 1080 yen (tax included)
Shogakukan
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'Serai' Official Website... Serai.jp
https://serai.jp/
'Serai' Official X (formerly Twitter)... @seraijp
https://x.com/seraijp
●Special Feature /
A New Way to Enjoy Zoos and Aquariums
The role of zoos and aquariums has changed significantly from merely exhibiting rare creatures. They now play a pivotal role in creating habitats, based on perspectives such as "peeking into the wild," "connecting rare species to the next generation," and "thinking about the global environment from the perspective of life."
This feature introduces distinctive facilities from the viewpoint of "zoos and aquariums where living creatures can be seen more naturally," and four experts, including Juichi Yamagiwa (Doctor of Science, primatologist), explain points that modern people should pay attention to.
Part 1 Zoos and Aquariums Looking to the Future
As the natural environment, the home of living creatures, continues to deteriorate, initiatives looking to the future are beginning. This section introduces zoos and aquariums from all over Japan that you should visit, based on four new trends: "environmental conservation," "community-based," "Japan's endemic species," and "animal welfare."
The magazine visits "Yokohama Zoological Gardens Zoorasia" (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture), which pursues what can be done for nature, from breeding rare species to preserving habitats; "Toyama Family Park" (Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture), which focuses on preserving and transmitting Japanese animals, including those from local Toyama, to future citizens, rather than rare animals from around the world; "Kasai Rinkai Aquarium" (Edogawa Ward, Tokyo), which focuses on Japan's endemic species and achieves a high-level balance between research and exhibition, such as breeding rare species; and "Ehime Prefectural Tobe Zoo" (Tobe Town, Ehime Prefecture), which practices animal welfare and respects the freedom and individuality of living creatures, delving into the characteristics and highlights of these facilities.
Part 2 How to Tour Zoos and Aquariums from the Perspective of Experts
Even simply "observing living creatures" offers various points to consider. This section introduces tips for a thorough tour from the perspectives of four experts: Hiroshi Aramata, a naturalist and writer; Mitsuhiko Imamori, a photographer who continues to photograph in satoyama and Lake Biwa; Juichi Yamagiwa, a Doctor of Science and world authority on primatology; and Hiroto Kawabata, a writer who reported on the forefront of animal exhibitions.
Featured facilities include Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (Motobu Town, Okinawa Prefecture), Lake Biwa Museum Aquarium Exhibition Room (Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture), Kyoto City Zoo (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City), and Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park (Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture). These are zoos and aquariums recommended by the experts.
Photo / Yokohama Zoological Gardens Zoorasia
The "African Savanna" zone at Yokohama Zoological Gardens Zoorasia, where several species are mixed in an environment that mimics their habitat.
Giraffes, zebras, and elands, large herbivores, can be seen spending time together in an open space. A black rhinoceros enclosure is also right next to it.
Photography / Shinichi Yokoyama
Popular at Kasai Rinkai Aquarium, the tank for murres, which fly in the sky and swim in the sea. Their wings, which spread wide when flying, fold small when swimming. The white-bellied bird on the rock is a common murre. The one on the far right is a tufted puffin.
Photography / Yoshihiro Kobayashi
Juichi Yamagiwa visiting the gorilla house at Kyoto City Zoo.
Western gorillas, kept in captivity, inhabit the tropical rainforests of Africa but are endangered due to habitat destruction and poaching. The four gorilla families at Kyoto City Zoo were all born in Japan.
Special Feature /
Mastering Coffee
With a wide variety of coffee beans readily available today, it's possible to brew a blissful cup at home. This section provides a multifaceted explanation from the perspective of "how to find your preferred beans, grind them precisely, and meticulously drip brew them."
The magazine begins by visiting "Burikina Coffee Farm" on Okinawa Island, which boldly cultivates the highest quality coffee beans, learning about the harvesting and refining processes, and also guides readers through global coffee producing regions and varieties.
Furthermore, Hidetoshi Horiguchi (Director of the Specialty Coffee Association of Japan) teaches the professional secrets to brewing the best cup: "choosing good coffee beans," "carefully examining the roast level," and "thoroughly measuring quantity, time, and temperature." Readers can learn about tools and basic drip brewing.
Additionally, we visited famous self-roasted coffee shops in Fukuoka, Tokyo, Yamanashi, Aichi, and Kyoto, where you can order their coffee beans. These shops are introduced along with their special coffee beans.
Photography / Akira Saito
A cup brewed with roasted Burikina Coffee Farm blend beans. The aroma and taste are complexly intertwined. It takes 1 to 4 months or more from harvesting to refining into green beans.
Photography / Naoki Matsukuma
'Serai' June 2026 Issue
36th Anniversary Summer Solstice Commemorative Issue
Released May 9, 2026
Price 1080 yen (tax included)
Shogakukan
***********************************
'Serai' Official Website... Serai.jp
https://serai.jp/
'Serai' Official X (formerly Twitter)... @seraijp
https://x.com/seraijp
●Special Feature /
A New Way to Enjoy Zoos and Aquariums
The role of zoos and aquariums has changed significantly from merely exhibiting rare creatures. They now play a pivotal role in creating habitats, based on perspectives such as "peeking into the wild," "connecting rare species to the next generation," and "thinking about the global environment from the perspective of life."
This feature introduces distinctive facilities from the viewpoint of "zoos and aquariums where living creatures can be seen more naturally," and four experts, including Juichi Yamagiwa (Doctor of Science, primatologist), explain points that modern people should pay attention to.
Part 1 Zoos and Aquariums Looking to the Future
As the natural environment, the home of living creatures, continues to deteriorate, initiatives looking to the future are beginning. This section introduces zoos and aquariums from all over Japan that you should visit, based on four new trends: "environmental conservation," "community-based," "Japan's endemic species," and "animal welfare."
The magazine visits "Yokohama Zoological Gardens Zoorasia" (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture), which pursues what can be done for nature, from breeding rare species to preserving habitats; "Toyama Family Park" (Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture), which focuses on preserving and transmitting Japanese animals, including those from local Toyama, to future citizens, rather than rare animals from around the world; "Kasai Rinkai Aquarium" (Edogawa Ward, Tokyo), which focuses on Japan's endemic species and achieves a high-level balance between research and exhibition, such as breeding rare species; and "Ehime Prefectural Tobe Zoo" (Tobe Town, Ehime Prefecture), which practices animal welfare and respects the freedom and individuality of living creatures, delving into the characteristics and highlights of these facilities.
Part 2 How to Tour Zoos and Aquariums from the Perspective of Experts
Even simply "observing living creatures" offers various points to consider. This section introduces tips for a thorough tour from the perspectives of four experts: Hiroshi Aramata, a naturalist and writer; Mitsuhiko Imamori, a photographer who continues to photograph in satoyama and Lake Biwa; Juichi Yamagiwa, a Doctor of Science and world authority on primatology; and Hiroto Kawabata, a writer who reported on the forefront of animal exhibitions.
Featured facilities include Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (Motobu Town, Okinawa Prefecture), Lake Biwa Museum Aquarium Exhibition Room (Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture), Kyoto City Zoo (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City), and Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park (Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture). These are zoos and aquariums recommended by the experts.
Photo / Yokohama Zoological Gardens Zoorasia
The "African Savanna" zone at Yokohama Zoological Gardens Zoorasia, where several species are mixed in an environment that mimics their habitat.
Giraffes, zebras, and elands, large herbivores, can be seen spending time together in an open space. A black rhinoceros enclosure is also right next to it.
Photography / Shinichi Yokoyama
Popular at Kasai Rinkai Aquarium, the tank for murres, which fly in the sky and swim in the sea. Their wings, which spread wide when flying, fold small when swimming. The white-bellied bird on the rock is a common murre. The one on the far right is a tufted puffin.
Photography / Yoshihiro Kobayashi
Juichi Yamagiwa visiting the gorilla house at Kyoto City Zoo.
Western gorillas, kept in captivity, inhabit the tropical rainforests of Africa but are endangered due to habitat destruction and poaching. The four gorilla families at Kyoto City Zoo were all born in Japan.
Special Feature /
Mastering Coffee
With a wide variety of coffee beans readily available today, it's possible to brew a blissful cup at home. This section provides a multifaceted explanation from the perspective of "how to find your preferred beans, grind them precisely, and meticulously drip brew them."
The magazine begins by visiting "Burikina Coffee Farm" on Okinawa Island, which boldly cultivates the highest quality coffee beans, learning about the harvesting and refining processes, and also guides readers through global coffee producing regions and varieties.
Furthermore, Hidetoshi Horiguchi (Director of the Specialty Coffee Association of Japan) teaches the professional secrets to brewing the best cup: "choosing good coffee beans," "carefully examining the roast level," and "thoroughly measuring quantity, time, and temperature." Readers can learn about tools and basic drip brewing.
Additionally, we visited famous self-roasted coffee shops in Fukuoka, Tokyo, Yamanashi, Aichi, and Kyoto, where you can order their coffee beans. These shops are introduced along with their special coffee beans.
Photography / Akira Saito
A cup brewed with roasted Burikina Coffee Farm blend beans. The aroma and taste are complexly intertwined. It takes 1 to 4 months or more from harvesting to refining into green beans.
Photography / Naoki Matsukuma