Protecting the diving beetle! - Kannonzaki Nature Museum, Sano Shingo
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.
That said, I have never met them in person, but they both love nature, the sea, animals, and photography, and I had seen them on the social media platform they previously ran together.
Sano has loved insects and other living things 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 the diving beetle and giant water bug were extinct species in Kanagawa Prefecture. He wondered if that was true and began researching the matter. His interest then expanded to include aquatic insects and aquatic creatures.
In her elementary school graduation essay, she wrote, "I love insects and catching them makes me happiest, so in the future I want 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 even if we catch them all." This is the "aspiration" that forms the core of her 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 the subject. 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 Tokyo City University Graduate School.
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 outside of work?
"I want to collect diving beetles from around the world! And I have a long-term dream of studying the Asian diving beetle group!"
The answer I got was:
I thought, "Isn't that part of your job?", 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 animals?"
"I like to exercise, and in junior high I was in the track and field club. Now I play soccer, boxing and 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 woods 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 atmosphere of drinking with everyone."
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 Nature Museum, where Sano works, various events are held throughout the year.
Kannonzaki Nature 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 having to register, so be sure to check them out.
If you'd like to go but it's far away, or you're a little curious about it, there are lots of great social media sites out there, so be sure to check them out.
The great thing about Kannonzaki Nature 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 in the same way, 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 all consistent, making me feel like I was looking at an illustrated book or a specimen, which appealed to my collector's heart.
Kannonzaki Nature Museum Official Instagram
In addition, on the YouTube channel, Sano takes the lead in collecting insects with children, as well as learning about the ecology of various living creatures, and sharing information that is useful in our daily lives and for children's education.
Kannonzaki Nature Museum Official Youtube
What's more, there are even sub-channels.
Amazing. It's so fulfilling.
Subchannel
I also have a blog, Twitter, and TikTok.
The Kannonzaki Natural History Museum is truly impressive!
blog
Twitter
TikTok
By the way, Sano also has his own blog and Instagram.
This is 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 Nature Museum!!
<Kanonzaki Nature Museum>
Opening hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm (entry until 4:30pm)
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), New Year 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/
