E6
Birth in the net
scene of backyard of museum

These prepared bones which are put in a net on the wall. These nets, which wrapped important materials, are generally used for agricultural products, such as oranges or onions. We have created various innovative methods of specimen preparation. We make specimens using our own tools and techniques. Generalized tools are often used. The use of net for oranges was a good "invention" by scholar who collect bone specimens.

The bodies of animals have bones with different forms and sizes. For example, skulls, hip bones, shoulder blades are usually large, whereas vertebrae, carpals and phalanges are so small that we would lose by mistake. In the process of making skeleton specimens, the bones are repeatedly boiled and washed. When the bones of the whole body are washed, we cannot deal separately with each bone.

A net for oranges was essential in the resolution of this problem. This net is now one of the symbols of the museum’s activities. The energetic museum washes more than hundred thousand bones per year. The quality of the museum depends on whether it can fulfill its enormous work. 　　(Hideki Endo & Mayu Kusumi)