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Piecing Together the Past: The Tale of a Japanese Sea Lion

  • An 1822 drawing of a Japanese sea lion by Hasegawa Settan based on a specimen that washed ashore in what is now Karatsu, Saga Prefecture. (Courtesy of the National Archives of Japan)

    An 1822 drawing of a Japanese sea lion by Hasegawa Settan based on a specimen that washed ashore in what is now Karatsu, Saga Prefecture. (Courtesy of the National Archives of Japan)

  • Kubota Tomotoshi, right, with his wife. As head of the Hakozaki Aquarium, he diligently worked to run the facility and educate the public. (Courtesy of Hanada Noriko)

    Kubota Tomotoshi, right, with his wife. As head of the Hakozaki Aquarium, he diligently worked to run the facility and educate the public. (Courtesy of Hanada Noriko)

  • The Hakozaki Aquarium’s grand opening in March 1910. The facility was built with the financial backing of prominent locals as a “permanent amusement spot” for residents of the area. (Courtesy of Hanada Noriko)

    The Hakozaki Aquarium’s grand opening in March 1910. The facility was built with the financial backing of prominent locals as a “permanent amusement spot” for residents of the area. (Courtesy of Hanada Noriko)

  • Hanada Noriko, owner of the Hakozaki Suizokukan Café. The shop’s specially designed cups feature Japanese sea lions. (© Hayashi Michiko)

    Hanada Noriko, owner of the Hakozaki Suizokukan Café. The shop’s specially designed cups feature Japanese sea lions. (© Hayashi Michiko)

  • Displays about the aquarium hang along the walls of the café. (© Hayashi Michiko)

    Displays about the aquarium hang along the walls of the café. (© Hayashi Michiko)

  • A ledger from the aquarium contained in a box of Hanada’s great-grandfather’s belongings with a section headed “Sea Lion.” (© Hayashi Michiko)

    A ledger from the aquarium contained in a box of Hanada’s great-grandfather’s belongings with a section headed “Sea Lion.” (© Hayashi Michiko)

  • Also among her great-grandfather’s belongings was an illustrated encyclopedia of animals from 1915 authored by the Japanese biologist Ishikawa Chiyomatsu and others. (© Hayashi Michiko)

    Also among her great-grandfather’s belongings was an illustrated encyclopedia of animals from 1915 authored by the Japanese biologist Ishikawa Chiyomatsu and others. (© Hayashi Michiko)

  • Hanada says she felt a strong affinity for the stuffed sea lion from the moment she laid eyes on it. (© Hayashi Michiko)

    Hanada says she felt a strong affinity for the stuffed sea lion from the moment she laid eyes on it. (© Hayashi Michiko)

  • Some of the commemorative postcards from the Hakozaki Aquarium that Hanada uncovered. (© Hayashi Michiko)

    Some of the commemorative postcards from the Hakozaki Aquarium that Hanada uncovered. (© Hayashi Michiko)

  • Maruyama Munetoshi outside the Kyūshū University Museum’s stuffed animal gallery. Hanging out front is a banner featuring the preserved Japanese sea lion. (© Hayashi Michiko)

    Maruyama Munetoshi outside the Kyūshū University Museum’s stuffed animal gallery. Hanging out front is a banner featuring the preserved Japanese sea lion. (© Hayashi Michiko)

  • A plaque at the museum with information on the Japanese sea lion. (© Hayashi Michiko)

    A plaque at the museum with information on the Japanese sea lion. (© Hayashi Michiko)

  • The Hakozaki Suizokukan Café. (© Hayashi Michiko)

    The Hakozaki Suizokukan Café. (© Hayashi Michiko)

  • The Japanese sea lion has a kind face, but when photographing the specimen, the scars left by the taxidermist come to the forefront, giving the creature with what appears to be a sad, pained expression. (© Hayashi Michiko)

    The Japanese sea lion has a kind face, but when photographing the specimen, the scars left by the taxidermist come to the forefront, giving the creature with what appears to be a sad, pained expression. (© Hayashi Michiko)

  • The historic science building that now houses the Kyūshū University Museum was registered as a tangible cultural property in spring 2023. (© Hayashi Michiko)

    The historic science building that now houses the Kyūshū University Museum was registered as a tangible cultural property in spring 2023. (© Hayashi Michiko)

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