Gensou Hyouhon Hakubutsukan ("Museum of Fantastic Specimens") is an online collection of creatures "curated" by Hajime Emoto. The three-story virtual museum consists of 9 rooms chock full of water- and land-dwelling monstrosities from all corners of the globe. (Navigating the virtual museum may be a bit difficult if you cannot read Japanese, so try the links below if you get lost.)
- 1st Floor: Room 1, Room 2, Room 3
- 2nd Floor: Room 4, Room 5, Room 6, Room 7
Each specimen has a clickable thumbnail that links to additional photos and historical and background information (in Japanese). The basement contains a bookshop and a cafeteria serving dishes prepared with some of the beasts featured in the museum (such as umiushi sashimi, served fresh from the tank and wriggling on your plate, with a balsamic vinegar sauce).
All of the creatures showcased in the museum are sculpted from paper, modeling paste and bamboo and are completely imaginary, claims Emoto -- perhaps a disappointment for hunters of the legendary tsuchinoko (center photo above) in search of an actual specimen, but an amazing collection of critters nonetheless.
[Link: Museum of Fantastic Specimens]
Arjay
Gorgeous work. Does Emoto have a book out? The last book listed on the shop page at Aoki Gallery looks like it might be of his sculptures. Maybe someone who reads Japanese can confirm for me.
http://www2.tky.3web.ne.jp/~aokigaro/
[]Juan Cabana
Emoto has 2 books that I know of. I bought both of them through amazon.com If they are not on the regular english page look on the japanese version page of amazon.com ( books )
[]Edo
Arjay: The book on Aoki Gallery's "Shop" page is Emoto's. That book, plus another, is also on sale in the Public Relations Office of his museum (located in the basement). Click on the images of the books to go to Amazon Japan. They are priced at just over 2,000 yen (around US$20).
[]aeron
Great find, thanks.
[]Juan Cabana
Greetings,
Hajime Emoto is a fantastic artist. I also create similar creatures but I use authentic fish and animal skins, bones and teeth. I would love to contact Mr. Emoto since we share the love of strange creatures.
Best regards, Juan Cabana ( Tampa Florida USA )
[]Juan Cabana
http://www.thefeejeemermaid.com/
[]Paulo
no Amazonas apareceu uma criatura muito estranha gostaria que vocês a procurasem para informar mais sobre ele.
[]grace
Put more pictures on and give more description
[]scott xavier
Are any for sale? I wanta a dragon...
[]sahilsihotra
i am at the state of ecstasy
[]NuclearLullaby
Hajime Emoto! This guy is awesome! The only thing that could make what he's doing any more wild, is if he brought these things to a "living form" But damn! I've been doing art since the day I was born (Yes I can prove that!) & I still can't do what this guy does!
[]Much love from CSOTYS & NuclearLullaby!
alan davis
how do i get one of those there was a shop option i guess that was it but i cant speak japanese could anyone email me back with info
[]Juan Cabana
someone is ripping off his art....contact Emoto and let him know
http://www.zazzle.com/hpls_nightgaunt_poster-228252533971230266#page_commentWall-commentAnchor
[]Kav P
I went to see this guy's exhibition in Kochi Prefecture, Japan the other day and it was absolutely stunning. However, I couldn't describe how amazing it was to my family and colleagues to my disappointment. I managed to find this article and it's been a huge help to my English-speaking colleagues. Thanks very much!
[]Benji Bruce
They look like Aliens...The one of the left looks like the Alien from War of The Worlds :)
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