Currently exhibiting about BEADS and you start with the second floor then B1. Shoto is a beautiful old buildings but current exhibition is quite shallow.

Pros: I learn alot on how beads were made without technology, with countries using different items to create accesories and wear. (Queen Bees head, dolphin’s teeth, bear claws, shells). It shows Japanese beading work inspired from Africa which were beautiful.

Cons: Lack of date or era. Placement of items are minimal and almost felt like I was in the 80s trade show with lack of lighting, consistent template of both english japanese and minimal effort on information. they are paper print out, cut out and double taped.

For a paid exhibition of 800yen (640yen if you wear beads) I am not sure if it is worth it. Beads are a huge topic and they were just showing examples of what tribes use what beads but not the significant of beads. The start was egyptians but placed at the end of the exhibition on b2 so there could definitely be improvement on the storytelling through placement and depth of information. eg, beads on south african skirt, but there is no photo of how they would wear it. more photos would definitely bring more understanding. or why placing feathers with beads were significant and if there is a status in the tribe that uses certain beads. and for recent work, of its inspiration and many many more information. Some were confusing, with information of Japanese beads and Ainu but beading infront of the information has nothing to do with Ainu culture and nothing is marked except saying it is from Edo period.

This is just one exhibit that I have been in Shoto Museum, but with the space, and the beautiful building and history, I was expecting more. A museum has so much potential of storytelling through lighting, flow of information and visual placement.