Start the tour with our introductory film “The Story of the Sea,” shown on a large screen in the orientation zone. The film is about the life and culture of people living in parts of Asia and the South Pacific Ocean. (duration: 13 min.)

Introduction: The Story of the Sea

It is said that the ethnic groups inhabiting the islands of the Pacific Ocean have their roots in Southeast Asia. How did they spread across these islands, with such a great body of water separating them? Given the fact that ocean currents run from east to west, it would have been impossible to reach isolated islands like Hawaii or Easter Island unless the journey was well-planned in advance.
What was it that inspired them to risk their lives voyage by crossing the ocean? Did a population increase prompt them to seek a new land, or was it simply curiosity?

About the Exhibits

The articles on display are pieces collected during Expo’75 (Okinawa International Oceanic Expo) by specialists sent to various oceanic regions for intensive research and interviews, with the help, understanding, and cooperation of the local people and many others. The pieces on exhibit capture the profound link between mankind and the sea, and it is our objective to educate and inspire coming generations through the preservation of oceanic culture, particularly that of the Asia and South Pacific Ocean regions throughout the 1970s.

About the Layout of the Exhibits

　The exhibits are classified into 7 color-coded sections; 1) Introduction, 2) Life in the South Pacific Ocean, 3) Melanesia, 4) Polynesia, 5) Micronesia, 6) Southeast Asia, and 7) Japan. Experience the cultural changes and the challenges the people in these regions faced through their differences and commonalities.