MINAMISOMA (Fukushima Pref.): A new art museum aimed at passing on memories of the March 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, was opened in the Fukushima city of Minamisoma on Wednesday.

The museum, called “Oretachi no Denshokan,” features some 50 works such as paintings, sculptures and photographs by 17 artists from the prefecture. Admission to the museum is free.

Jun Nakasuji, 56, a photographer who has since 2017 held exhibits themed on the earthquake — and tsunami-triggered nuclear accident at the Fukushima No. 1 plant, and others spent about half a year preparing the museum. They renovated a two-story warehouse donated by a local resident.

Works on display inside include ceiling paintings of animals and nature in the disaster-hit areas, as well as paintings that depict nuclear reactors as human heads. Outside the facility is a wall painting depicting the sun setting on the rippling sea near Minamisoma, and music and reading events are expected to be held there.

“We built the museum from scratch, including decontaminating the warehouse,” said Nakasuji, who serves as the museum’s director. “I’m relieved that we were able to open the museum thanks to the support of local people and volunteers.”

“I want to make (the museum) a place where we can talk to people who have not experienced the major earthquake and (nuclear) accident through art, and give them opportunities to think about it,” he said.

“I’m happy that this meaningful facility was built in Minamisoma, which was affected by the nuclear power plant (accident),” said a 52-year-old man who volunteered to help open the museum. “I want to cherish it as I think there’s a role that only art can play in conveying memories.”

JIJI Press