Kōraku

Of course Tokyo had a cool JAXA space museum that includes a lab with some actual physicists in it and an exhibit dedicated to Sailor Moon. Because Japan.

Observations:

(TeNQ is also at Tokyo Dome but it gets a post of it's own because, Space-Geek).

Don't be intimidated by the Japanese-ness of this museum, it's staffed by people who are what I'm learning are typically Japanese in their hospitality - super helpful and super friendly. We were even offered an Easter Egg lucky dip at the purchase of our tickets.

When you purchase your tickets you can get an English version of the pamphlet that pretty much explains the narration. But a staff member came over and explained what would happen next anyway. There are also English descriptions on all the exhibits/games and the staff speak enough English mime to help get you through everything. I think there was only one game we couldn't play - and it had a warning in English that it was Japanese language only.

I had to use some pics from the internets for the viewing screen and the wall projections since you can't take photos - they don't really do either justice anyway because they are a pretty darn cool use of projection mapping - this ain't no PowerPoint presentation!

After being bedazzled by projections, you go through to a science exhibit about space research. I'm enough of a space geek to know that their material is all pretty recent though - so they clearly keep this section up to date.

The University of Tokyo has an annex in TeNQ called the "Science Area" which is basically some scientists in a glass walled lab that everyone can see working. No photos allowed of their research of course. A lot of universities do this these days, it's like a really geeky version of Big Brother.

They have some interactive games including a personality test that I think was better in the way it asked the questions than for the actual result:

Spacecraft personality type: You are the "Sakigake" type, constantly pursuing a new path. Like Sakigake, which was launched as a test probe for Halley's Comet.

Alien personality type: You are the "Princess Kaguya" type, the lunar princess boasting great beauty.

Speaking of Sailor Moon, Princess Kaguya was a main villain multiple times because her main mission was to cover the Earth in snow and ice to make it part of her "collection" of ice planets. So I'm not sure what TeNQ is trying to say about that one...

The Sailor Moon is totally for the fan-girls, of which there were some. Possibly the main reason why some of them were there in the first place. But whatever works really.

You can also get your photo taken with an life-size replica of an Asgard from Stargate SG1. Combined with the Star Wars merch outside and I'm thinking the special exhibit is a revolving collection of pop culture references. Sassy.

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