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▼ Let’s Go To The Museum / Kids Take Center Stage at Andersen Studio
- Category:Tourism
FUNABASHI, Chiba — The Children’s Museum at the Funabashi Andersen Park in Chiba Prefecture offers children a chance to become Thumbelina, the heroine of the famous fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875).
On a recent day, the voices of children playing the characters in the fairy tale — from the princess to the witch, field mouse and butterfly — resounded in the museum’s studio. Designed to resemble a lotus pond and with cloths hanging from the ceiling, the studio has a fantastical atmosphere, while the spotlighted faces of the children were as serious as could be.
The Andersen-themed museum was opened 20 years ago by the municipal government of Funabashi, a sister city of the Danish city of Odense where the writer was born. The museum is packed with parents and their children on holidays, with many of the children hoping to play Thumbelina at the Andersen Studio.
Children can receive acting instruction from the museum staff and wear
elaborate costumes. Face painting also helps them get into their role.
The studio’s set was made in Denmark and brought to Japan from a children’s studio located next to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense. The content of the play at the Funabashi museum is almost the same as at the Odense studio.
After playing Thumbelina in the approximately 30-minute play, a beaming Miharu Hayashi, 6, from Shiroi in the prefecture, said, “I’m happy to become a princess.”
Visitors can also participate in such other activities as block printing, fabric weaving and pottery making at the museum. Takatoshi Shibata, 60, a staffer in charge of administering the museum’s programs, said, “We’re working to come up with various programs that can stimulate children’s senses and enhance their powers of imagination and creativity.”
The museum also exhibits precious items related to the author, including copies of a book written by Andersen that was published when he was still alive, and a letter written by Andersen himself.
On a recent day, the voices of children playing the characters in the fairy tale — from the princess to the witch, field mouse and butterfly — resounded in the museum’s studio. Designed to resemble a lotus pond and with cloths hanging from the ceiling, the studio has a fantastical atmosphere, while the spotlighted faces of the children were as serious as could be.
The Andersen-themed museum was opened 20 years ago by the municipal government of Funabashi, a sister city of the Danish city of Odense where the writer was born. The museum is packed with parents and their children on holidays, with many of the children hoping to play Thumbelina at the Andersen Studio.
Children can receive acting instruction from the museum staff and wear
elaborate costumes. Face painting also helps them get into their role.
The studio’s set was made in Denmark and brought to Japan from a children’s studio located next to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense. The content of the play at the Funabashi museum is almost the same as at the Odense studio.
After playing Thumbelina in the approximately 30-minute play, a beaming Miharu Hayashi, 6, from Shiroi in the prefecture, said, “I’m happy to become a princess.”
Visitors can also participate in such other activities as block printing, fabric weaving and pottery making at the museum. Takatoshi Shibata, 60, a staffer in charge of administering the museum’s programs, said, “We’re working to come up with various programs that can stimulate children’s senses and enhance their powers of imagination and creativity.”
The museum also exhibits precious items related to the author, including copies of a book written by Andersen that was published when he was still alive, and a letter written by Andersen himself.
Titled “The Improvisatore,” the book, published in 1835, is a novel that Andersen wrote before he began writing fairy tales. The museum exhibits a copy of the 1837 second edition of the novel — which brought the Dane into prominence — that is believed to be one of only two copies remaining in the world.
Outside the museum, visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of 19th-century Denmark.
A windmill with large wooden blades and a farmhouse with a reed-thatched roof in the park were created in close cooperation with the Odense municipal government. The park’s fairy tale-like atmosphere will make visitors feel like they have returned to their childhood.
Children’s Museum, Funabashi Andersen Park
The Andersen Studio is open only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 2 p.m. with a quota of 15 children aged from 4 years old to middle school age. A participation fee of ¥300 per child is required for the play. Material fees are necessary to participate in other hands-on events such as block printing.
Address: 525 Kanehoricho, Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture
Open: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on Mondays, the year-end, New Year’s holidays and other occasions.
Admission to the studio: Free
The entrance fee to the park is ¥900 for adults, ¥600 for high school students, ¥200 for primary and middle school students and ¥100 for preschool children aged 4 or older.
Inquiries (in Japanese only): (047) 457-6661
Outside the museum, visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of 19th-century Denmark.
A windmill with large wooden blades and a farmhouse with a reed-thatched roof in the park were created in close cooperation with the Odense municipal government. The park’s fairy tale-like atmosphere will make visitors feel like they have returned to their childhood.
Children’s Museum, Funabashi Andersen Park
The Andersen Studio is open only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 2 p.m. with a quota of 15 children aged from 4 years old to middle school age. A participation fee of ¥300 per child is required for the play. Material fees are necessary to participate in other hands-on events such as block printing.
Address: 525 Kanehoricho, Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture
Open: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on Mondays, the year-end, New Year’s holidays and other occasions.
Admission to the studio: Free
The entrance fee to the park is ¥900 for adults, ¥600 for high school students, ¥200 for primary and middle school students and ¥100 for preschool children aged 4 or older.
Inquiries (in Japanese only): (047) 457-6661
- December 17, 2016
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