SATOSHI ŌMURA MUSEUM
A new, dynamic forum for academics, culture, and art

Shinji Shimada

SATOSHI ŌMURA MUSEUM

President, University of Yamanashi

Dr. Satosh i Ō mura , a 19 5 8 g raduate of the University of

The University of Yamanashi established the Satoshi Ōmura Museum using

Yamanashi s Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences (now the Facul-donations to the University of Yamanashi Satoshi Ōmura Memorial Fund,ty of Education) won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine inwhich was created to commemorate Dr. Satoshi Ōmura s 2015 Nobel Prize inDecember 2015.

Physiology or Medicine.

In commemoration of that monumental achievement, the Univer-

The Museum symbolizes the University s role as a Center of Community

sity of Yamanashi created the Satoshi Ōmura Memorial Scholar-in both its location and design. Abutting Takeda-dōri on its way to Takeda

ship Fund and established the Satoshi Ōmura Museum to honor

Shrine, the building invokes the University s storied history by emulating theDr. Ōmura s tremendous accomplishments and preserve his legacy

octagonal, three-story structure of the University s predecessor̶the Edo-pe-for future generations.

riod Kitenkan Kōfu School of Learning.

The entrance to the Satoshi Ōmura Museum, which abuts Take-The first floor of the museum showcases a variety of items that illuminateda-dōri on its way to Takeda Shrine, features a unique, compellingDr. Ōmura s career, including original copies of graduation papers, examples

design that invokes the octagonal, three-story structure of theof research projects, and a wealth of items relating to his Nobel Prizesecond Kitenkan̶a branch of the Shōheikō (a state-run school

triumph. Also on the first floor are an exhibit detailing the Kitenkan, whichunder the Edo shogunate) that would later go on to become thewould go on to form the cornerstone for the University of Yamanashi, and a

Faculty of Education at the University of Yamanashi.

wealth of academic items and cultural pieces that offer revealing glimpses

The first floor of the museum houses several exhibit areas,

into the University of Yamanashi s storied past. The second floor is home toshowcasing not only a variety of valuable items relating to Dr.

Ōmura Memorial Hall, a venue for lectures, symposia, socials, and more. The

Ōmura s Nobel Prize and academic triumphs but also a wealth ofUniversity of Yamanashi regularly organizes events to hold at the Memorial

academic items and cultural pieces that offer revealing glimpses

Hall, hoping to give as many people as possible the opportunity to experience

into the University of Yamanashi s storied past. On the second

the space in person.

floor, meanwhile, is Ōmura Memorial Hall: a space available tostudents, faculty, alumni, and the local community.
The University of Yamanashi is a Center of Community, abackbone institution for the entire region. That symbolic identity

All of us at the University of Yamanashi are committed to making theSatoshi Ōmura Museum a vibrant representation of the school, a symbol ofKōfu, and a dynamic contributor toward a stronger, more engaging regionalcommunity.

has taken on a deeper, richer significance with the creation of theon a far-reaching scale, nurtures and showcases academic, cultural,and artistic endeavors, and symbolizes a new chapter in the history of the University of Yamanashi.

University of Yamanashi Kofu Campus
Takeda Shrine

For
MatsumotoFor
NagoyaYamanashi
JR Chuo LineNirasaki
StationKofu
StationJoei
Station

University ofYamanashi
Kofu Campus

Takeda St.

Ōmura Museum, which represents a core hub for the community

Yamanote St.

Chuo Expy

ForTokyoOtsuki
StationKofu
StationJR Chuo Line

ForTokyoHeiwa St.

SATOSHI ŌMURA MUSEUM

Commemorating the Opening ofthe Satoshi Ōmura Museum

JR Minobu
LineMinobu
StationMt.Fuji

Gunma

ForFuji

IbarakiNaganoSaitamaHigashi-Kanto
Expy

Shinjuku
Kofu

Yamanashi

Tokyo

JR ChuoLinepyChuo Ex

Kanagawa

JR or Keisei
Chiba

Shizuoka

NaritaInternational
AirportHanedaInternational
Airport

Mt.Fuji

SATOSHI ŌMURA MUSEUM

4-4-37, Takeda, Kofu-city, Yamanashi Prefecture, JAPAN 400-8510Tel : +81(0)55-220-8059 Fax : +81(0)55-220-8378
https://omura--museum.yamanashi.ac.jp/

JapanA new, dynamic forum for academics, culture, and art

Floor GuideA Kitenkan tower

C Stone Monument
The stone monument
built next to the entrance of
the academy hall; the Japanese
text engraving, "Shiseisokudatsu," reﬂects Prof. Ōmura's
philosophy that things will
go well if people have heartsof sincerity and mercy

Dr. Satoshi Ōmura (L) receivesof valuable quartz.
In 1920, the University of Yamanashi (then the Yamanashi Normal School)
Kōkichi Momose, a druggist and avid mineral enthusiast. To house the items,

XVI Gustav of Sweden at thewhich boasted both signiﬁcant academic value and aesthetic merit as pieces of

D Bust of Dr. Ōmura

award ceremony on December

craftwork, the University erected the reinforced-concrete Quartz Collection

This impressive bronzebust, standing 180 cm on its
pedestal, depicts Dr. Ōmurain the cap and robes hewo re w h e n re cei v in g hishonorar y doc torate from
Wesleyan University in 1994.

10, 2015 (Photo courtesy of1 Dr. Ōmura exhibit

The Satoshi Ōmura Museum premises are also home to the Quartz Collection
House, which showcases the University of Yamanashiʼs unparalleled collection

received a donation of precious quartz and processed quartz products fromhis Nobel Prize from King Carl

Kyodo News Service)

Quartz Collection House

Feature a unique, compelling design thatinvokes the octagonal, three\story tower ofthe second Kitenkan building.

B Jusin-Kitenkan Monument

House in 1927.
The collection continued to grow across the subsequent decades. In theearly 1960s, jewelers Muneyoshi Ishihara and Bunʼichi Ishikawa added to theUniversityʼs holdings with contributions of quartz accessories and crafts thathighlighted cutting-edge processing techniques.

This collection delves into Dr. Ōmuraʼs remark-On display at the Quartz Collection House are a substantial number ofable life and career, featuring photographs,

academically and aesthetically important items from the University oforiginal copies of graduation papers, examples

Yamanashiʼs roughly 170-piece quartz collection. The other pieces are currentlyof numerous research projects, and a wealth ofon exhibit at the Yamanashi Jewelry Museum (located at Yamanashi Plaza inE Giant crystal

items that cast an illuminating light on his Nobel
Prize triumph.

the Yamanashi Prefecture Disaster Prevention Annex).
A hexahedron with amaximum m-face width of
18 cm and measuring 97 cm
long, 30 cm wide, and 80 cm
around, this 77.5-kg crystal
is a rare, impressive specimen.

This monument was erected to commemorate the 1843 (Tempo 14) reconstruction
and relocation of Kitenkan, an institution
f o u n d e d in 179 6 (K ans e i 8) to e du c ate
vassals of the Tokugawa shogunate who
were working in Kofu and their children.

Yamanashi has been a fertile source of quartz for centuries, fostering thedevelopment of numerous quartz-processing techniques. With the productionof quartz jewelry and craftwork representing a key local industry, quartz now
stands alongside Mt. Fuji and wine as a proud symbol of Yamanashiʼs uniqueidentity.

1F
2 Kitenkan exhibit

ECDr. Ōmura exhibit

1

DVisit this exhibit for a peek into the Kitenkan,
the Shōheikō (Edo shogunate-run institution)
branch school that would develop into theUniversity of Yamanashi. In this exhibition area,

Staffroommuseum-goers will ﬁnd fascinating archival

Specialexhibit

Kitenkanexhibit

32

The Quartz Collection
Houseevidence from the late-eighteenth-century

Quartz inkstone

onward, the Kitenkan monument, an ink impres-Crafted by hand from a single piece ofquartz (from the Takemori area)
Created in 1873

sion of the institutionʼs motto, and more.

Ōmura Hall

3 Special exhibit

2FŌmura Memorial HallThis area showcases precious academic materials, research journals, educational achieve-Aments, and other pieces from the University ofYamanashiʼs faculties, centers, and other institutions. Changing on a regular basis, the special
exhibit highlights a diverse mix of accomplishments from the Universityʼs proud heritage.

BThe Ōmura Memorial Hall(capacit y: 150; ﬂoor area:168 m2) is a versatile space,capable of hosting everythingfrom lectures and symposia
to academic, cultural, andartistic gatherings.

Twin quartz

Quartz class from Suishō-Tōge

Translucent, tabular Japan law twin quartz

Long, columnar quartz formation (somepieces containing grass)