Important Cultural Property Exhibition: Shigetomi Hazama, Naniwa Citizen Astronomer

Osaka Museum of History

Important Cultural Property: Map of Ezochi, Karafutochi, Kuril Islands (Late Edo era) Osaka Museum of History Collection (Donated by Heian Hazama)

This event has ended.

Shigetomi Hazama (1756–1816) ran his family pawn shop in Osaka while also working as a citizen astronomer gathering data for the Edo government.
The Osaka Museum of History’s collection preserves and exhibits the Hazama Collection, donated by Heian Hazama, successor of the Hazama family business. Parts of this collection were designed as an Osaka Tangible Cultural Asset for their value in the history of astronomy. In 2016, the Shigetomi Hazama Materials, a set of 740 items held by the Osaka Ichiritsu Central Library since the Edo Period, were given the designation of a national Important Cultural Property. Focusing on these materials, this exhibition of 30 items traces the history of Shigetomi Hazama and the Hazama family. This is a valuable chance to learn how Naniwa citizen astronomers contributed to the development of high degrees of scientific skill and knowledge in Osaka.