Visitors' Voices

• The opinion box in our museum is called “ Short Comments to the Museum Director”. Director himself opens this box to find out the visitors’ impressions and requests.
  
• Below are some of the visitors’ comments.


• comments
I’ve visited here twice before, but this is the first time to visit when the museum is opened! On hearing my situation, one of your staff started detailed explanation for me. It was worthwhile coming all the way. My interest in stones began in my childhood. Mystery of stones still attracts me, and when I found your website, I could hardly wait to visit your museum! Amazing Itacolumite, TV Stone as natural fiber optics, and stones with beautiful appearances…they all were impressive! Now I have a question for the Museum Director: “What does stone mean to you?”
- June 18, 2006 S from Setagaya, Tokyo

• Answer
From the Director:
I have never thought of what stones mean to me. Stones in this museum are like World Cup soccer players for me. I am happy if I can serve as both their manager and supporter. Also, I feel that it is my important job to successfully introduce each stones characteristics to the audience (visitors). Is my answer too serious? If I make my mind flexible as Itacolumite, I would say, “Stone may be my master and I may be its servant.


• comments
I have been interested in minerals and fossils, but I never had a chance to hold a specimen in my hand, and I had forgotten about my interest in everyday life. But, by visiting here and seeing exhibited specimens, I remembered my interest in stones. Please let children know the wonder of stones. And the demonstration was wonderful. I would like to hear other staffs’, too, sometime.
- March 12, 2006 I from Nagaizumi-cho, Shizuoka

• Answer
From the Director:
Thank you for visiting our museum. I am glad to hear that you liked our demonstration. Our hope is to impress people with real specimens, and to let people know the wonder of geoscience. I am happy that our intension has turned out to be successful. Please visit our museum sometimes. And we welcome your fresh opinions.


• comments
I have visited this museum several times since the opening. Every time I visit, I see more enriched exhibit, and it makes me feel like coming again. (When the museum was first opened, exhibit seemed unsatisfactory to me.)
- September 2, 2005 G from Mishima, Shizuoka

• Answer
From the Director:
So you are a watcher of our museum since the opening in 1971. Compared to then, our museum has greatly grown both in quality and numbers of specimens. But, there are some things that have not changed. One is the demonstration of the stones. We are doing it for more than 30 years. And the museum staffs’ interest in and affection for stones also have not changed. Please keep watching our museum and let us hear your message again.


• comments
“I have visited many fossil museums, but this museum’s display is easy to see, and also it was first time for our children to touch real fossils. I took several other boys (5th grade) with me today, and they looked so delighted.”
O. M. (38) from Kanagawa


• comments
“This is my second time visiting this museum. I found more interesting than the first time (more than 5 years ago). The fluorescent stones were especially interesting. They were so beautiful, as if gemstones were sprinkled over them. Other stones were interesting, too. There were so many ammonite fossils. I enjoyed very much.”
K. T. (20) from Shizuoka


• comments
“ I thought I have visited here when I was in primary school. I wrote, ‘I thought’ because I don’t exactly remember. It is more than 20 years. But, I could not forget the fluorescent stones in the dark. When I saw the movie ‘Laputa: Castle in the Sky’, I was so excited because I knew the stone that glows blue-green in the dark! Today I was reminded of exciting feeling of my childhood.”
T. T. (27) from Aichi


• comments
“ I came from Shiga. I was looking for some place to visit on our vacation, and noticed this museum. For a time, my 6 year-old son had brought home stones in his pocket everyday, so I thought he was interested in stones. When I asked him about this museum of stones, he immediately answered ‘Yes!’ Now he looks more interested in stones. He was especially attracted by fluorescent stones. Thank you very much.
M.Y. (34) from Shiga