Kinosaki Marine World's fish displays area "SeaZoo" will reopen on July 25th after renovations | NOMURA Co.,Ltd. was in charge of everything from displays concept to displays planning and concept design, aquarium design, and construction.

The "SeaZoo" fish displays area at Kinosaki Marine World in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, celebrated its 30th anniversary and underwent a partial renovation on July 25, 2024. The concept of the newly completed displays "CUBE" in "SeaZoo" is "Towards a more conversational aquarium." Through conversations with the creatures and zookeepers, 20 cube-shaped tanks, illustrations, and graphic boards, it aims to create a new displays style that encourages learning together, fostering curiosity, new discoveries, and free thinking.
Our company participated from the planning stage of displays concept, and was comprehensively responsible for everything from displays planning and concept design, graphics and video, aquarium design, and displays and aquarium construction. For about 30 years, our company has been involved in Hiyoriyama Kanko's aquarium business as a spatial production partner, and at the current Kinosaki Marine World, we were in charge of the experience space DIVE (2006) and the Hiyoriyama Coast Museum (2019).

The animals and their keepers take center stage in this interactive displays that encourages conversation with visitors.
We prioritize genuine conversations between visitors and between visitors and zookeepers, and we make efforts to help visitors learn on their own and develop a greater interest in the animals.
The role of the zookeepers is to connect the animals with the visitors. For example, they encourage visitors' interest and deeper knowledge by sharing what they have learned from the animals and the joy of raising life, and by directly answering their questions. In addition, communication boards featuring the zookeepers' words and illustrations are placed around the tanks. To allow visitors to feel a sense of closeness by utilizing the individuality and thoughts of each zookeeper, they do not standardize their expressions but instead put their own insights and things they want to convey into text in their own words.

Highlights of displays

Space concept design incorporating museum displays techniques
At "CUBE," 20 cube-shaped aquariums are the main focus, displays unique creatures. concept design is like an art museum, with information kept concise, encouraging visitors to focus on the aquariums themselves and engage in conversations while appreciating them. Each aquarium is displays to closely resemble the creatures' natural habitat, allowing visitors to witness their vibrant lives and the dramas and stories that unfold within them.

About the breeding project
The program also presents an academic story about the challenges faced by the breeders in the breeding and raising of corals and snow crabs, a process that is said to take about 10 years.

About Hiyoriyama Coast
The zoo is home to a Blue Carbon Project to protect the ocean off Hiyoriyama Coast, as well as a reproduction of the local "Tayui Wetlands," which are registered under the Ramsar Convention, along with the creatures that live there. Visitors can learn about the local marine life and environment while also feeling the passion of the zookeepers.
 

Project Manager
Based on the concept of "Becoming a more conversational aquarium," this new style of displays will "tell stories" in the words of the zookeepers about the lessons and emotions they have learned from their daily interactions with the creatures. We hope that visitors will enjoy the questions that arise from observing the creatures through the 20 new cubes installed in this renovation, as well as the surprise and joy of discovery.