The World’s Only Museum Dedicated to Parasites
An independently-run facility in Tokyo, tucked away in a residential neighborhood
by Megan Dick
When people think of Tokyo, sushi, game arcades, and the hectic Shibuya crossing tend to be the first things that come to mind. Often overlooked, then, is that this bustling city is home to the world’s only museum dedicated to parasites. Tucked away in a primarily residential neighborhood of Tokyo, the Meguro Parasitological Museum is easy to miss. But for those who have had the chance to explore its many strange collections, it is easy to understand why the museum is gaining popularity among foreign tourists and Japanese alike.
The museum is home to roughly 60,000 specimens, about 300 of which are on display to the public. The first floor starts with the basics: what exactly is a parasite? From there, visitors are introduced to the diverse world of parasites and their hosts. The second floor focuses on the lifecycles of the parasites that plague humans and the associated symptoms, as well as the history of parasitological study. All exhibits include not only neatly-illustrated information but also the parasites themselves, the specimens suspended in rows upon rows of glass jars.
An 8.8-meter-long tapeworm extracted from a 44-year-old human is on exhibit
The biggest attraction? Museum manager Seiichi Kamegai answers without hesitation: “The most famous, or most asked about specimen in the museum is the 8.8-meter-long tapeworm.” The tapeworm was extracted from a 44-year-old Japanese person in 1986. The parasite grew to this incredible length in just three months after its larvae were unknowingly ingested along with some trout sushi.
The museum was founded in 1953 by Kamegai’s grandfather, Dr. Satoru Kamegai. Motivated by a desire to educate the local community about parasites and contribute to parasitological research, Dr. Kamegai established the museum with private funds. Seiichi Kamegai is actually the third generation of his family involved with the world of parasites, as his father also conducted parasitological research.
Since the museum’s founding, admission has been — and is intended to remain — free. The museum is independently run, and receives no funding from the national or municipal governments. Museum and research operations are funded by individual donations. Those interested in making a contribution generally contact the museum directly, and visitors can add a donation to a small collection box near the entrance.
But just because the museum relies on donations doesn’t mean that it lacks the interactive displays and special exhibits of museums with more stable sources of funding. From May 2nd through September 27th this year, visitors can learn all about mosquitoes and the parasites they transport in a special exhibition created in collaboration with the Department of Tropical Medicine, housed in the Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo.
People who visited the museum between June 12th and July 26th also had the chance to observe a live parasitic worm and its intermediate host, a land snail. The worm is famous for its use of aggressive mimicry, whereby it infects the eyestalk of the snail and controls its movement so as to mimic the appearance of a caterpillar or grub. This resemblance then serves to attract birds, the parasite’s final host. Other recent exhibits include a collection of underwater photographs of marine parasites, and a 60th anniversary display chronicling the museum’s history.
Souvenirs feature photos and illustrations of parasites
And after wandering through diverse displays and jars of floating roundworms, visitors can pick up souvenirs from the museum shop on the second floor. There are t-shirts, mini tote bags, postcards, and key rings boldly featuring photos or illustrations of parasites. Many items feature the museum’s logo, two parasitic flatworms fused together in the shape of a butterfly. Cell phone charms containing real parasites have proven to be the most popular among visitors.
The museum’s diverse publications are also available for purchase, including an English guide to the exhibits (it’s recommended that visitors who do not speak Japanese pick this up before touring the museum, as many of the displays do not have English translations).
A museum, not a hospital
Visitors to the Meguro Parasitological Museum also include people hoping for personal consultations — in other words, people who believe they are hosting a parasite and are seeking advice or treatment. At that point, Kamegai tells these visitors that the Meguro Parasitological Museum is a museum, not a hospital.
(photo: Towa Hiyoshi)
Originally published at ignition.co.
