At Long Last, A Child’s View Becomes Reality

The ribbon is cut, and now the people arrive!

“Japan Through the Eyes of a Child,” the Morikami’s new permanent exhibit in its Yamato-kan, will welcome audiences this Saturday.  On Nov. 7, children under 17 are free.

When I walked the new exhibit at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, it definitely made me want to visit Japan. I’ve never been to the country, but looking at the maps of its trains and walking through a miniature marketplace made me realize it’s now another stop on my “Bucket List,” so to speak.

Part of the appeal is that there is enough western culture and modernity incorporated into Japan to make a westerner feel familiar, but enough history and tradition to let you know this isn’t Kansas or Chicago or L.A.

One of the coolest parts is peering out the doors and windows of the Yamato-kan from the “living room” and “kitchen” and seeing the Japanese gardens of the Roji-en outside. Almost makes you feel like you’re really there!

Although I wonder if it’s this warm and humid in November in Toyko?

The Sun-Sentinel reviewed “Japan Through the Eyes of a Child” today; take a read by clicking here.

Take off your slippers when you visit the home at "Japan Through the Eyes of a Child."

A Japanese marketplace re-imagined in "Japan Through the Eyes of Child."

Japanese classroom at JTEC at the Morikami.

Looking Forward at “Japan Through the Eyes of a Child”

For years, the Yamato-kan was the little Japanese house where you put on paper slippers and learned about early Florida and how Japanese settlers ended up there.

But yesterday, the Yamato-kan officially became more about today than yesterday. The ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiled a new permanent exhibit called “Japan Through the Eyes of a Child,” which invites you to step into a 3-D world as seen by a younger generation.

It’s a classroom, a living room, a shopping area and a train platform, all in great detail and accuracy, so you feel like you’re there – a child in modern-day Japan. You don’t have to be in elementary school to appreciate a day of make-believe. Although a “test” class of chorus singers from Morikami Park Elementary gave it a thumbs-up yesterday, after performing as part of the festivities.

More about this new, interactive exhibit in the next blog… Grand opening for the public is Nov. 7! All kids 17 and under are free! Learn more at www.morikami.org.

Former museum director Larry Rosensweig with Morikami trustee Cheiko Mihori

Larry Rosensweig, Bonnie LeMay and Beverlee Kohnken walk through the classroom

Morikami Park Elementary singers entertain the ribbon-cutting audience

Rebecca Feldman and Brianna Plasky, singers from Morikami Park Elementary

Wendy Lo, education coordinator at Morikami, with kanji chart in Japanese classroom

JTEC's Japanese kitchen is modern with cultural touches