Protecting the diving beetle! -Shingo Sano, Kannonzaki Nature Museum
Hello, my name is Fumika Mabuchi.
This time, we will introduce Mr. Shingo Sano, a curator at the Kannonzaki Natural History Museum located in Yokosuka Prefectural Kannonzaki Park.
Actually, he is my cousin's husband.
Although I have never met them, they both love nature, the sea, animals, and photography, and I had seen them on the social media platform they used to run together.
Sano has loved insects and other living creatures ever since he was old enough to understand, and in his kindergarten graduation essay he wrote that he wanted to become "an expert on insects and dinosaurs."
When he was in the second grade of elementary school, he learned at the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History that diving beetles and giant water bugs were extinct species in Kanagawa Prefecture. He wondered if this was true and began researching the matter. This triggered his interest to expand to aquatic insects and creatures living near water.
In his elementary school graduation essay, he wrote, "I love insects and catching them makes me happiest, so in the future I would like to work in a job that involves conservation activities or research for conservation, so that we can create a world where there are so many insects that they do not decrease no matter how much we catch." This is the "aspiration" that is the pillar of his current activities.
He then studied under Professor Kitano Tadashi of Tokai University, who is a researcher of diving beetles, and spent six years immersed in diving beetles.After graduating, he went on to work as a part-time lecturer, advisor, and lecturer at the prefectural museum.
However, he felt that he still had a lot to learn in order to do the "work involved in conservation activities and research for conservation" that he had written about in his elementary school graduation essay, so he decided to go on to a doctoral program in Environmental Information Studies at the Graduate School of Tokyo City University.
Now I am working as a museum curator, which was one of my goals.
So far, you've been immersed in insects and living creatures, but is there anything else you like to do outside of work?
"I have a long-term dream of collecting diving beetles from around the world, and also to study the Asian diving beetle group."
The answer I got was:
I thought, "Isn't that work?", but he himself said, "I don't even know where the line is between my hobby and my job."
When asked, "Is there anything else you like besides living things?"
"I like to exercise, and in junior high I was in the track and field club. Now I play soccer, boxing, and sports sword fighting in the museum garden with junior high school students who volunteer at the museum. After returning home, I do some light weight training or running, but in the summer there are a lot of insects that tempt me, so I end up going into the forest while I'm running to catch insects."
In the end, we ended up talking about living things.
"I also like drinking parties. It's not that I like alcohol, but I like the idea of having a fun time drinking together."
At last it came out!!
I heard this story after watching several videos on the YouTube channel of the museum that Mr. Sano is in charge of, so his answer made a lot of sense to me.
While watching the video, I thought that Sano must be a very charming person, and very good at getting people around him involved and on his side.
At Kannonzaki Natural History Museum, where Sano works, various events are held throughout the year.
Kannonzaki Natural History Museum Official Homepage
There are interactive events held both inside and outside the facility, as well as exhibits and events that you can participate in without registering, so be sure to check them out.
If you'd like to go but it's far away, or if you're a little curious, there are plenty of social media sites to check out.
The great thing about Kannonzaki Natural History Museum's social media is that the content posted on each platform is different.
I think it's common for posts like this to be copied and pasted, but the themes are completely different depending on the medium.
Moreover, it is updated frequently.
This is amazing.
Kannonzaki Nature Museum Facebook
My personal favorite is Instagram.
The first images in each post were consistent, making it feel like I was looking at an illustrated book or specimen, which really appealed to my collector's heart.
Kannonzaki Natural History Museum Official Instagram
In addition, on the YouTube channel, Sano takes the lead in collecting insects with children, and you can learn about the ecology of various creatures, as well as information that is useful in our daily lives and in children's education.
Kannonzaki Natural History Museum Official Youtube
What's more, there are even sub-channels.
Amazing. It's incredibly fulfilling.
Sub-channel
There's also a blog, Twitter, and even TikTok.
The Kannonzaki Natural History Museum is truly impressive!
Blog
Twitter
TikTok
By the way, Sano also has his own blog and Instagram account.
It's also updated frequently.
Sano Shingo is truly formidable!
Sano's blog
Sano's Instagram
Whether you already know about it or not, you'll definitely want to keep an eye on the future of Kannonzaki Natural History Museum!!
Kannonzaki Natural History Museum
Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM)
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays *Open every day in July and August
Admission fee: Adults (16 years and over) 500 yen, elementary and junior high school students 300 yen, children (4 years and over) 100 yen
Inquiries: TEL 046-841-1533
https://kannonzaki-nature-museum.jimdofree.com/
