The Art Aquarium Museum GINZA is somewhere I'd wanted to visit for a long time. When I actually walked in, my first impression was that it was very lavish, with a touch of the splendor and allure of an oiran procession. The lighting, music, tanks, and decorations all blend together, but what I think was done especially well is that the lighting doesn't overshadow the goldfish themselves. Instead, it acts like stage lighting for them, ensuring that the goldfish remain the true stars of the exhibition.
I especially liked the area where you can view the goldfish from above. Goldfish originated in China, and when they were first kept in containers such as bowls and jars, they were generally viewed from above. This top-viewing style later spread to Japan and also influenced the appreciation of goldfish in terms of their back patterns, body shapes, and the way their tail fins spread out. Today, we're mostly used to viewing fish from the side through glass, so in everyday life there are very few opportunities to appreciate them from this traditional perspective. Being able to experience this ancient way of appreciating the beauty of goldfish here felt quite special.
Another area uses a large number of Japanese lanterns to create the atmosphere, and at first glance it reminded me of the densely arranged lanterns at Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara. The other areas make extensive use of light and shadow, reflections on the water, flowers, and traditional Japanese elements to create different moods. Some of the decorations clearly use artificial flowers, but with the lighting and colors of the water, they don't look cheap. Instead, they give the whole space a feeling somewhere between a stage and a dream.
They also offer different seasonal themes, with the flowers, lighting, and some of the exhibits changing accordingly. As a result, the scenery may look completely different depending on when you visit. This time, I happened to catch the end of the winter exhibition. I'm really looking forward to summer, since summer is the season for goldfish, and I hope I'll have a chance to come back and see it.
