MOMOI MUSEUM
This museum presents several typical crafts from Akō. The visit begins with a small tour in the garden where pots of different shapes are arranged. Next to each of them are pipes with a telephone receiver at the end. These strange installations, invented during the Edo period, are called suikinkutsu, the potted water harps. Water is poured into one of the pots and, sticking the receiver to your ear, you can listen to the water flowing. It is a subtle little concert that is offered to the ears of the visitors. The garden, where these instruments are installed, represents the sea, which can also be seen, this time the real one, below. On one of the stones is a whale. Its baby is not far away. If you find it, press down on its back and you will see its mother getting angry! In the spring, a third sea opens up to the eyes of visitors: the pink cherry blossoms. Inside the building are exposed unkayaki, white, ochre and black pottery, which transcribe the sunset. These shades of colour are produced by the effects of temperature during the firing process. All the pieces are available for sale. Also on display are carpets made using a technique dating from the Edo period. Today, only fifteen craftsmen of Akō are still able to carry out these gestures of yesteryear and to make these carpets which require nearly six months of work. Very expensive, they were used in ships and imperial trains.
