Nature and Science Treasures of Japan - Part One: Fauna

In a 2-part series, Science View steps out of the studio to explore some hidden treasures of Japanese nature and science, in a visit to the all-new Natural History Collection Wing of the National Museum of Nature and Science Tsukuba Research Departments. The National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo has a history of more than 130 years. In addition to its valuable exhibits in the fields of natural history and the history of science and technology, it also engages in pioneering research. The new natural history building in Tsukuba, which houses most of the more than 4 million items in the natural history collection, was completed in April 2012. You can see fascinating items not normally shown to the public, as we explore the natural world of Japan, how the Japanese people interact with it, and also Japan's growth as a technological power.
 

In Part 1, we focus on the fauna of Japan. Our first port of call is the ancient specimen collection, where we examine a fossil that is considered one of Japan's treasures. What makes this 6 plus-meter long plesiosaur, discovered in 1968, such a national treasure? Well, it actually helped overturn a widely held assumption about Japanese natural history. Tune in to find out what it was. Meanwhile, a fossil found nearby suggested that our Futabasaurus was engaged in a ferocious battle with another creature. What was this creature, who helps inspire vivid images of an ancient Japanese ecosystem? We peer into the scientists' toolkit to see how CT scanning is now being used to study the structure of such valuable fossils - without breaking them! CT scans have also revealed much about the way of life of an ancient mammal known as the "mysterious beast"!

Next, we visit the vertebrate skeleton room to see and hear about the whales that live in waters around Japan. Scientists have been investigating why healthy whales strand themselves on beaches. You might be surprised to hear one of the reasons we reveal... Something related to both particular whale ability and a common topographical feature of the Japanese coast. What could they possibly be? Many new species of fauna and flora are still being found in Japan. It has climate zones that range from tropical and temperate to subarctic. It has warm coral seas and also trenches 8,000m deep, and a rich diversity of plant and animal species dwells here. In a vast specimens room, we see a new species of octopus first reported in 2008, and a researcher reveals what's behind its unusual name. There are many other new species to marvel at, too. Join us for this rare opportunity to see some of the treasures from Japan's rich natural world.