Skip to content

Japan Week trail

Keep an eye out and see how many objects you can find!

Celebrate Japan Week with us

Japan Week 2025 is a celebration of the history and friendship between Manchester and Japan. Our city’s connection with Japan stretches back over 200 years, all the way back to the 1800s.

Keep an eye out as you explore the Museum for the hinomaru – the national flag of Japan. Each point on the trail offers a glimpse into Japan’s rich cultural history.

See if you can answer all the questions and hand in your completed sheet at our welcome desk to enter our Japan Week prize draw!

Don’t forget to take pictures and tag us on social media as well #JapanWeek2025

Object 1

Welcome Area

Standing almost four metres in height, this incense burner is one of the tallest objects in the whole Museum! It was designed by Suzuki Masayoshi and made sometime during the late 1800s, possibly for the 1886 World Fair.

How many elephants can you find on this object?

Object 2

First Floor

This gallery uses comics to tell stories of belonging. In one case, Catriona Laird explores a story of friendship, ceremony, and care. She asks us to think about they ways that objects can bring people together, with a focus on teapots. In Japan, the tea ceremony is a form of art where people come together to share a special moment.

Where can you find this display in the Museum?

Object 3

Living Worlds

This display is inspired by Sadako Sasaki, who was only a young girl when the atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. She survived the blast but became unwell in her last year of elementary school. While she was in hospital, Sadako began folding paper birds – over 1,000 of them – hoping that her wish to get better would come true. In Japan, this tradition is known as senbazuru.

What type of birds did Sadako fold out of paper?

Object 4

Nature's Library

Scientifically named Antheraea yamamai, this insect has been raised in Japan for over 1000 years. Its wings can stretch up to 15cm across and it makes a naturally white silk that is very strong and stretchy, which is perfect for making fine fabrics. Today, this silk is very rare and expensive.

What type of insect is this?

Object 5

Exhibition Hall

The animal held by the person in this statue first arrived in Japan around 1500 years ago. Since then, it has become one of the country’s most beloved and respected animals. Japanese folklore is full of stories about them, including the maneki neko, which are associated with good luck.

What type of animal is this?

Object 6

Top Floor

This is a set of Japanese armour that was worn by a member of a famous group of warriors. The armour would have protected them in battle, but it was also made to look impressive. Can you spot all the animals and mythical creatures decorating it?

What was this group of warriors called?

Terms and conditions
Japan Week Trail competition
  1. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
  2. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions and agreement to be bound by them.
  3. The competition is open to UK residents of any age. Entrants under 18 must get consent from their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) before entering. Manchester Museum will assume that the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of entrants under 18 agree to these Terms and Conditions on behalf of the entrant.
  4. Employees of Manchester Museum, or their family members or partners (or anyone else connected in any way with the competition) shall not be permitted to enter the competition.
  5. Manchester Museum will not accept responsibility for entries that are lost, mislaid, damaged or delayed in transit, regardless of cause, including, for example, as a result of any postal failure, equipment failure, technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind.
  6. The rules of the competition, and the prize for each winner, are as follows:Complete the Japan Week Trail sheet and hand in your completed sheet at the Manchester Museum Welcome Desk.The competition will run from 4 – 9 September 2025 and the winner will be selected at random on 15 September 2025. The winner will be contacted on 16 September 2025 and will have 30 days to claim their prize. Failure to claim prize will result in Manchester Museum selecting another winner.

    The prize is a Manchester Museum tote bag with a Japanese vegan cookbook, a Curious Panda activity book for children, two wooly cat finger puppets, a Manchester Museum magnet, a set of cat badges, and two Manchester Museum pencils.

  7. Manchester Museum reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition, and these terms and conditions, without notice, in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil, or military disturbance, act of God, or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation, or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
  8. In entering, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and eligible to claim any prize you may win. Manchester Museum may require you to provide proof that you are eligible to enter the prize draw or competition.
  9. Manchester Museum reserves all rights to disqualify you if your conduct is contrary to the spirit or intention of the prize draw or competition.
  10. Manchester Museum is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.
  11. The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable and no cash alternative is offered. Manchester Museum reserves the right to replace the prize with an alternative prize of equal or higher value if circumstances beyond Manchester Museum’s control makes it necessary to do so.
  12. The decision of Manchester Museum regarding any aspect of the prize draw or competition is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into about it.
  13. Winners will be chosen at random from all entries received and verified by Manchester Museum.
  14. The winner will be notified by email on 16 September 2025. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 30 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize and pick a replacement winner.
  15. Manchester Museum will notify the winner of when and where the prize can be collected.
  16. The competition, and these terms and conditions, will be governed by English law, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.
  17. The winner agrees to the use of their name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner, or any other entrants, will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation, and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.
  18. The winner’s name will be available 28 days after closing date by sending an email to: museum@manchester.ac.uk
  19. The information you provide will be used in conjunction with the privacy policy on our website.