AIRA has been forced to cancel or scale down its activities under the coronavirus pandemic. AIRA’s representatives visited Mr. KOH Yasuharu, the owner of the World Doll Museum to exchange views about AIRA activities. (No.20-10)

Date and Time: October 30. (Fri), 2020 13:00 ～ 14:40
Venue: The World Doll Museum
Participants: Mr. KOH Yasuharu (the owner of the World Doll Museum)
AIRA : President ICHIKAWA Hitoshi Vice Presidents KITAJIMA Fumiko, MURAKOSHI Kouichi

AIRA’s activities, including the International Speech Contest and the AIRA International Festival, were cancelled due to the spread of the coronavirus in the early FY 2020. Consequently, AIRA has been affected badly; postponing foreign language classes, and changing the Japanese class for foreigners from an in-person class to an online class. The effects caused by the COVID-19 resulted in dwindling the number of the members and worsening financial situation.

In this tough condition, Mr. Koh, a supporting member of AIRA, offered contribution to AIRA which has been engaging in grass-roots international exchange activities. AIRA received his contribution with gratitude to go on its activities.
AIRA will consider how to spend the contribution specifically but hope to spend it to the next year’s commemoration project of AIRA’s 30th anniversary or “an experience-abroad-project for the youth”, in which the young people will be able to relish the experiences of Mr. Koh even a little. Mr. Koh boasted himself a “world traveler” who had visited 275 countries and regions.

Some tips about the World Doll Museum
According to the Tripadvisor, the world largest online review site, the World Doll Museum is one of the sightseeing spots in Abiko, coming after the Teganuma Park and the Bird Museum. When AIRA representatives visited the museum, some guests (Japanese, Indonesian, Chinese) were there.
The museum (his private residence) is crammed with huge number of dolls, watches, paintings, globes, masks, kaleidoscopes, stationary articles, bills and coins from many countries, pictures of ethnic minorities and the Antarctic Pole. More than 2000 dolls categorized by region are displayed neatly so that guests can be aware of features of the country and the region with ease. When one of AIRA members looked into a noticeable mask, he could see a view of a kaleidoscope. The mask bought in Bhutan was added some work by Mr. MURAKOSHI Michihiro, a craftsman of kaleidoscopes living in Abiko. The guests may feel as if they were visiting foreign countries when they stand on a carpet woven one of pictures depicting the Silk Road by HIRAYAMA Ikuo, and see an Indian wood-curbed table and others.
Tens of thousands of Mr. Koh’s collection were acquired over 50 years. The Antarctic Pole .is the place he recommends to visit the most.

(Translated by Hitomi Koyama)