・About the Museum The Moriyama HOTARU（Firefly) Museum is an artificial nursery for Genji fireflies for the purpose of protecting them and educating people about water environment conservation. In the exhibition room, visitors can learn various things about fireflies from the biotope tank, firefly specimens, display panels, and firefly-related materials and literature. In 2021, […]
・Moriyama was once the home to Genji fireflies Moriyama has long been known for colonies of Moriyama fireflies (genji botaru).Since 1902 (Meiji 32), Moriyama fireflies have been offered to the Emperor of Japan, and Moriyama fireflies became more and more famous. From the Taisho era (1912-1926) to the beginning of the Showa era (1926-1989), firefly […]
・The background of the Museum In 1979 (Showa 54), the “Community Development for Reviving Fireflies project” was launched to create a river environment that would realize “Moriyama, where fireflies fly around” and to revitalize Moriyama as “Moriyama, where fireflies are abundant”. As part of this project, an artificial river was constructed in Hatonomori Park […]
・First step of Expansion of Citizen Activities As urbanization progressed in Moriyama, more and more places became brightly lit even at night, making it increasingly difficult for fireflies to live there, even as conservation activities progressed. Meanwhile, in 2006 (Heisei 18), the NPO Biwako Houjo-no-Sato accepted the position of designated manager to operate the museum […]
・Progress and the Role of the Museum and its Future Over the years, the Museum’s steady research and efforts in artificial firefly breeding, larval releases, and educational activities to conserve the water environment for fireflies have started to yield positive results. The Moriyama Firefly Park & Walk has attracted many people from within and […]
・Birth of idol “MOPIKA” The mascot character for the museum was publicly solicited, and out of 54 submissions from all over Japan, the work of Hiroshi Kanazu from Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, was chosen. He personified the image of a curious “firefly” flying around with a magnifying glass in his hand, so that everyone would […]
