The "Nannan DAYS" held at the Ohara Museum of Art on November 15 and 16, 2025, is a new initiative aimed at making museums accessible to everyone.
It has often been introduced as a successor event to the "Children's Art Museum", which continued for about 20 years, and it is true that many participants had that impression.
This article introduces the background and purpose of the event through the "Nannan DAYS 2025 Discussion" held the week after "Nannan DAYS".
What is Nannan DAYS
"Nannan DAYS" is a large workshop event held at the Ohara Museum of Art on November 15 and 16, 2025, aimed at being a museum that is accessible to everyone.
The Ohara Museum of Art held an event called "Children's Art Museum" (commonly known as "Chilmu") every August from 2002 to 2019. However, it was canceled due to measures against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020, and has been on hold since then.
As summer approached each year, there were inquiries asking, "Will it be held this year?" However, "Nannan DAYS" was planned as an event that reopens in a new form while utilizing the history of the "Children's Art Museum".
Specifically, while it was previously centered on children, it has been designed to be more accessible for a diverse range of people, including foreign residents, individuals with disabilities, and parenting generations.
Holding of Nannan DAYS 2025 Discussion
Then, on November 24 (Monday, holiday), the week following the Nannan DAYS 2025 event, a discussion was held with speakers and participants to share achievements and challenges, and to exchange opinions for future activities.
Presentations by Speakers
The speakers are as follows:
- Kayo Onimoto (Researcher on a fixed-term contract, Education and Outreach Department, National Museum of Art, Osaka)
- Noriko Yoshikawa (Chief Curator and Educator, Shiga Prefectural Museum of Art)
- Hiroko Shibakawa (Assistant Professor, Okayama University ESD Collaborative Promotion Center)
- Shizuka Teramoto (Education and Outreach Officer, Ohara Art Foundation)
Shizuka Teramoto
Shizuka Teramoto reported on the background of the new event "Nannan DAYS" as the main person in charge.
Reopening Chilmu!
However... in a new form
With this policy in mind, Ms. Teramoto thought, "I want to be a museum that is easy to visit when various people want to go to a museum. I want to be a museum that provides a good experience when they visit."
Therefore, this time, efforts were made to improve museum accessibility, and the following initiatives were implemented:
- Targeting groups that have not received much information before (foreign residents in Okayama Prefecture, welfare facilities and organizations, childcare support facilities, children in northern Okayama Prefecture)
- Publishing detailed barrier-free information (restrooms, steps, etc.) on a special website
- Creating a comfortable environment for visitors (introduction of writing boards, calm down spaces, childcare services, etc.)
Calm down space
A place where individuals who are sensitive to light and sound stimuli can calm down or rest when they feel tired or are about to panic.
Additionally, the three pillars of the event (circulate, create, color) were explained, along with specific examples such as multilingual support and "easy Japanese tours," as well as workshops that engage the five senses.
Kayo Onimoto
Kayo Onimoto, who previously worked at the Ohara Museum of Art and is currently in charge of education and outreach at the National Museum of Art, Osaka, introduced the "Tiny Children's Art Tour" aimed at preschool children as an example from the National Museum of Art. This program includes a session called "Komekko Session," primarily targeting preschool children who use sign language as their first language.
She also discussed art activity programs that utilize senses other than sight, such as "Miru Plus".
Noriko Yoshikawa
Noriko Yoshikawa, a curator at the Shiga Prefectural Museum of Art, introduced her museum's efforts to become a "living room-like museum."
As one example, she introduced the "Exhibition of Many Perspectives" held in 2023. This exhibition, composed of eight chapters, was created by brainstorming ideas with families with small children and individuals with disabilities. Since then, various initiatives such as workshops and dialogue-based appreciation have been conducted.
Hiroko Shibakawa
Hiroko Shibakawa from the Okayama University Graduate School of Education ESD Collaborative Promotion Center spoke from the perspective of a social education researcher and as a mother.
At the "Tsunagi Museum of Art" in Tsunagi Town, Ashikita District, Kumamoto Prefecture, she expressed her agreement with the idea that "museums are small windows open to society" and hopes that schools will become the same.
Symposium
In the last hour, a symposium format was used for opinion exchange among the four speakers and participants, covering the following topics:
- The effectiveness of "easy Japanese tours" and challenges in target setting
- The reasons and significance behind the staff's verbal prompts during the "Doki Doki Puzzle" at the Kurashiki Archaeological Museum, which were not only visually correct but also sensory-based
- The popularity of mini-panels addressing questions related to museums and the stance on captions
- The coexistence of quiet appreciation and interactive appreciation (zoning)
Overall, while there were challenges, the discussion was centered around respectful opinions regarding the new challenges undertaken, creating a friendly atmosphere for exchanging ideas.
Conclusion
I learned relatively recently that the Ohara Museum of Art has been expanding its activities beyond just being a "museum," including initiatives like the "Children's Art Museum."
In recent years, there has been a trend where it is considered "normal" for companies and organizations to engage in social contribution activities alongside keywords like SDGs. However, I was surprised to find that the Ohara Museum of Art had been undertaking various initiatives even before this era.
As someone who has been looking forward to the reopening, I was pleased to know that it has reopened as a new initiative and that it is intended to be a continuous effort.
As discussed in the discussion, it is true that there was a "gap" between the operators' intentions and the actual participants in some initiatives.
However, this knowledge can only be gained through implementation, and I hope it will be utilized in future endeavors.
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Nannan DAYS 2025 - What will you encounter at the museum? - Discussion Meeting Data
| Name | Nannan DAYS 2025 - What will you encounter at the museum? - Discussion Meeting |
|---|---|
| Date | November 24, 2025 (Monday, Substitute Holiday) 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
| Location | Ohara Museum of Art Kojima Torajiro Memorial Gallery |
| Participation Fee (Tax Included) | Free |
| Website | Nannan DAYS 2025 - What will you encounter at the museum? - Special Site |
