Information that accumulates, to be shared and transmitted among people living under the same roof. Home is not just a space for communication, but also of learning, mutual understanding and an emotional give and take. This exhibition explores the various design processes that tackle questions like "what does it mean to understand?", or "what does it mean to communicate?"

"Science for Children" was first published in 1925 (Taisho 14), and continues to be one of Japan's best and longest running magazines. It has contributed to nurturing future scientists, serving as an early entry route into natural science. Ranging from space engineering to animal and plant ecologies to familiar inventions from everyday life, the magazine pushed an editorial vision that helped its readers explore topical scientific issues in greater detail, publishing serial and special editions that gave readers simulated experiences in science and technology. In addition, the magazine did not only deal with the latest novel topics. It featured all manner of content, from the avant-garde to the everyday, without dumbing down or omitting details even with difficult content, in an attempt to foster independent thinking. The minutely detailed articles and supplements included with the publication were extremely popular, and many readers continued to be avid fans even way into adulthood. There were also detailed diagrams of everything from paper planes to home appliances, allowing its readers to make the real thing, or a miniature, for themselves. It gave children the chance to make things they really wanted to have and play with, all while having fun and being challenged through DIY experiences. Telling its readers the importance of this hands-on approach was another reason for its continued popularity. This exhibition of crafts brings to light the charm of a magazine that fostered its readers' curiosity for the unknown, and the joy of figuring things out on one's own. Talk and workshop events are also planned. Check website for details (Japanese only): http://www.inax.co.jp/culture/event/040_gallery/001178.html

Perhaps few people know of "Panda Kopanda (kid panda)," a film created by the duo Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki 36 years ago focusing on "carefully drawing daily life, with nothing special." This incomparably happy film about the strange life shared between an active young girl and a grown an baby panda is scheduled to be re-released in theaters this spring. This exhibition gearing up to the theater release displays Hayao Miyazaki's original image boards for the film in a bamboo forest. Miyazaki's belief in "portraying 'everyday life' as entertainment" and connections with the duo's later works are of interest. Location: Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, 2F Gallery Curation and Design: Goro Miyazaki *Please contact the museum for more details. [Image: Hayao Miyazaki From the 'Panda Kopanda' image board ©TMS]

-Let's Try! Let's Make! Various types of craft projects are available for children at Zokei Studio (3rd floor). Please check their calendar to find out what kind of projects they have. Programs change every two or three weeks. "Karakuri" (trick) is the overall theme until the end of August 2008. Tuesday - Friday: 12:30-17:30, Weekend/ Holiday: 10:00-17:30 -Origami Playground Origami workshop for children presented by a volunteer staff of Kodomo no Shiro. Thursday: 14:30-15:30 3F Play Hall -Tracing Art Movements of body while doing sports, cooking, cleaning, etc. Using a tablet to trace a picture, this computer workshop presents how to capture different poses. May 13th - June 8th: open anytime on weekends and holidays/ weekdays 14:00-, reception closes at 17:00 10F Computer Room They have many other programs for children at Kodomo no Shiro. Please visit their website for more information.

Internationally acclaimed artist Taro Gomi (1945-) has produced more than 350 illustrated books. His inspired touch with simple shapes, colors, and words has attracted a wide following among children and adults alike. "As a creator, there's nothing more exciting than making books. Planning, producing, printing, and seeing the completed book, or sometimes seeing something emerge from my work -- the entire process is really fun for me. I want to share this enjoyment with others and create something that my readers can savor in the same way, too," says Gomi. This exhibition introduces the processes involved in Gomi's book production, from his preparatory sketches through to their animation, and various related documents. Related Events (Please see the website for details.) -"Telling Folktales" by a volunteer group Reading of a Taro Gomi book, by volunteer staff Date: May 4th (Sun) 14:00-15:00 -Lecture by Taro Gomi "Picture Book Time" Date: May 5th (Mon/ Holiday) 14:00-15:30 This exhibition consists of two parts: Part 1, April 1st (Tue) - May 7th (Wed)/ Part 2, May 9th (Fri) - June 11th (Wed).

From the museum's Japanese painting collection, approximately 30 works by the representative modern Japanese painters will be on display. -Children Art Lecture "The World of Modern Japanese Paintings" Date & Time: June 8th (Sun) 14:00-15:00 (Doors close at 13:30) Location: Gotoh Museum Auditorium (50 seats in order of arrival) Fee: Free This event is intended for junior high and elementary school students only.

The Japanese government has officially announced that they have not confirmed the existence of "unidentified flying objects thought of as originating from beyond earth." However, the possibility of extraterrestrial life remains a topic of interest. Indeed, many government figures have made positive remarks about the possibilities of the existence of extraterrestrial life and unidentified flying objects, although they noted that any opinion favoring the existence of such life forms was their personal position. Why do we now believe or doubt or make various kinds of assumptions about the existence of alien life forms which have not yet been proven or unproven by anyone? It seems that behind this question is an essential question related to the essence of our own existence. The formation and the figure of earth and the universe are becoming evident through the development of recent planetary exploration projects and the technology of astronomical observation. In addition, the mystery of evolution in the creation of life on a planet is also on the verge of being solved by cutting-edge science. If this research continues to progress, one day soon the debate on the potential existence of aliens will be answered, and perhaps sooner than any of us think. This exhibition unravels the psychology of humans and their fascination with the existence of aliens, even in ancient times, and "scientifically" pursues the possibility of the existence of aliens from the field of astrobiology based on the latest discoveries and theories of the world's foremost scientists. Aliens themselves might be sending messages toward us to convey their existence, and the inhabitants of earth have been seeking proof of the existence of aliens. Which of them do you think will respond first to the other's signal?

The Hakone Open-Air Museum was opened in 1969 to create a harmonic balance of the great nature of Hakone and Art. The unique experiences of open-air museum await you, as different seasons and weather create an ever-changing sensation of true art. The Museum realizes the philosophy of Henry Moore “Sculpture is an art of the open-air” with a grand backdrop of Hakone's great nature.

Most existing planetariums can only project approximately 2 million stars. However, MEGASTAR-II can reproduce, with up to 12.5x magnification, 5 million fixed stars that cannot be seen with our naked eye. Until MEGASTAR-II, the necessity of reproducing stars to that extent was not really thought possible among planetarium specialists. However, only MEGASTAR-II can reproduce the solidity, light and shades of the colors of the Milky Way and the fine details of the dark nebula. This capability cannot be found elsewhere. The "Geo-Cosmos" is the symbol exhibit of Miraikan and has 1 million LEDs closely set on its spherical, 6.5 m in diameter body. Based on the data sent from satellites, the appearance of the earth changes hourly on the displays and you can have a virtual experience of the "Earth as seen from outer space".

This exhibition is organized to commemorate the worldwide premiere of the "Chronicles of Narnia: The Caspian King's Hunting Horn". The movie features rising Hollywood star Ben Burns as the Caspian King, a good-looker with the dignity and charisma needed to play a royal, as well, earning him legions of female fans around the world. This exhibition features the costumes and props used on the set during filming, as well as storyboards, sketch panels and images.