【Kamezo Meets】 No. 20 National Museum of Nature and Science Special Exhibition "The Great Extinction Exhibition - The Big Five of Life History" Part 1 - "You can just be impressed with 'Wow' without thinking too much. There's a different kind of fun at the National Museum of Nature and Science exhibitions compared to art museum exhibitions, isn't there?"
Kabuki actor Kamezo Kataoka visited the National Museum of Nature and Science's "Great Extinction Exhibition," appreciating its accessible wonder.Summary
This article is the first installment of the "Kamezo Meets" series, reflecting on the late Kabuki actor Kamezo Kataoka's visit to the National Museum of Nature and Science's special exhibition, "The Great Extinction Exhibition - The Big Five of Life History," shortly before his passing in November 2025. Kamezo, known for his intellectual curiosity, expressed that science museum exhibitions offer a different joy than art museums, allowing one to simply be impressed with a sense of wonder, like returning to childhood. Guided by the exhibition's general supervisor, Dr. Jun Yabe, the tour focused on the "Big Five" mass extinctions. The exhibition is structured around five zones corresponding to the geological boundaries (like the O-S boundary or K-Pg boundary), showcasing the life forms that perished and those that subsequently thrived, using fossils and replicas. Dr. Yabe explained that most extinctions were caused by massive volcanic activity leading to climate shifts, while the final one (K-Pg) was a double blow from an asteroid impact and volcanic eruptions, leading to the dinosaurs' demise. Kamezo found the scale of these events profound. The exhibition ultimately suggests that extinction creates opportunities for new life to emerge, concluding that "the end is the beginning, and a crisis is also a chance," setting up a deeper discussion for the next installment.
(Source：美術展ナビ)