Shigureden
Today, we visited the museum for the Ogura Hyakuninisshyu (Ogura Anthology of 100 Poems by 100 Poets), just a 20 minute trip by the 'Randen' tram from our house. This was one of those brilliant surprises, where your expectations are totally surpassed in all ways.The museum's quirky, high-tech approach to the ancient subject matter makes everything instantly accessible, interesting, and engaging. Despite the relatively tough subject matter of one hundred traditional poems, the presentation, and variation of ways to interact with the poetry, managed to draw the youngest infants, dodderiest of pensioners, and most excitable of foreigners alike into the subject matter.
The museum is largely the labour-of-love of Nintendo owner and former president, Yamauchi Hiroshi. His company's influence can be seen all over Shigureden; from the more obvious technological sophistication (tens of visitors at once, are led around a massive interactive map of Kyoto by their own individual virtual 'bird' guide flying over the city), to the games-for-all-ages philosophy (in one game, players help one of the hyakunin to remember their poem by solving riddles based upon said poem, all in a virtual 'well' which reacts with swirling waters wherever the player touches).
I can't quite express just how amazed I was by the technology. I'm one of those geeks that doesn't get excited by high-tech for the sake of it. I need a proven purpose before I get excited. It's exactly because this museum was so far ahead in terms of making great use of the latest technology that I was almost speechless as the kimono-clad assistant explained the rules to me in perfect English. After a brief yet thorough explanation of the history of the poems, an assistant presents each user with, essentially, a special-edition Nintendo DS handheld unit. These DS units utilise an incredibly precise local positioning system, however, and can identify where you are in the main hall of the museum. Stand next to a poem, and the poem will be read to you in traditional chanting. Move over the huge, multi-screen map of Kyoto, and the options change. Click the magnifying glass to zoom on whatever you are currently standing over (I saw both my house and office - think 'Google Earth' writ large, for the basic idea). Easily the most amazing feature, though, was the ability to select from many different Kyoto locations and have a virtual bird appear on the map where you are, and lead you, every step, to where you want to go. It's can't really be explained in a way that captures the magic of being guided by your own little 2D bird, whilst tens of other people follow their own guides to varying destinations, all in real time. Astounding.
I could go on, but I'd just be gushing more. I've never enjoyed ancient poems in a foreign language more. You really should see the gallery.
I am so happy how this picture came out, and the rest for that matter.
Ki (Email) - 12 03 06 - 11:57
