The National Museum of Nature and Science will hold a special exhibition, "Satoshi Kako's Science Picture Books: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of His Birth," from Tuesday, March 24, 2026 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, as detailed below. [For more information, please visit: https://www.kahaku.go.jp/tenji-event/nid00001839.html ]
Poster visual for "Satoshi Kako's Science Picture Books," commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Satoshi Kako (1926-2018) was a picture book author who debuted in 1959 with "The Dam Builders" and has since published over 600 books. His picture books spanned a wide range of genres, including humorous works such as "The Crow's Bakery," as well as many science picture books, including "The River." These works can be considered pioneers of science communication and contributed to the development of science education.
This exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary of Satoshi Kako's birth and showcases his major science picture books, along with his passionate beliefs in science education and his insatiable curiosity for natural science, all presented with original illustrations. Please enjoy the world of science picture books as seen through the eyes of a researcher, as only the National Museum of Nature and Science can.
Project Overview
Special Exhibition: 100th Anniversary of Birth – "Satoshi Kako's Science Picture Books"
[Venue] National Museum of Nature and Science (Ueno Park, Tokyo), Japan Gallery, 1st Floor, Special Exhibition Room and Central Hall
[Event Period] March 24, 2026 (Tue) – June 14, 2026 (Sun)
[Opening Hours] 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
*From April 25th (Sat) to May 6th (Wed, holiday), we will be open until 6 PM.
*Entry is permitted until 30 minutes before each closing time.
[Closed days] Mondays, Thursday, May 7th
*However, the museum will be open on March 30th (Mon), April 27th (Mon), May 4th (Mon/National Holiday), and June 8th (Mon).
[Admission Fee] General public and university students: 630 yen (510 yen for groups), high school students and younger, and those 65 years and older: Free
*This exhibition can be viewed with the regular admission fee only. *Group rate applies to groups of 20 or more.
*For details on admission procedures and other information, please visit our website.
https://www.kahaku.go.jp/
[Organizer] National Museum of Nature and Science
[Special Cooperation] Kako Research Institute
[Exhibition Overview] See attached exhibition flyer.
Supervisor of this exhibition
Senior Researcher, Fungi and Algae Research Group, Department of Botany, National Museum of Nature and Science
Taiju Kitayama
His specialty is phycology. To unravel the mysteries of the seaweed fauna along the Japanese coast, where an unparalleled diversity of warm and cold currents flows, he collects seaweed by free diving and dredge from Hokkaido in the north to the Ogasawara Islands in the south. Recently, he discovered the brackish water alga Kanagawa Aonori, a new species found in Japan, on Chichijima Island and is continuing his research. He also conducts research on freshwater algae in Tokyo, and in 2024, he reported a new species of red alga Kitanomaru Mozuku from Kitanomaru Park in the outer gardens of the Imperial Palace. The museum's permanent exhibitions include a systemic plaza, Japanese seaweed, Earth history navigator, and Yoshio Tanaka projection mapping.
Kako Research Institute Representative: Mari Suzuki
She is the representative of Kako Research Institute and the eldest daughter of Satoshi Kako. She has worked at Kako Research Institute since 2003, supporting her father's work. Currently, she gives lectures and engages in other activities with her husband.
[Agency for Cultural Affairs] Press Release
