{"id":1741,"date":"2011-04-11T00:50:34","date_gmt":"2011-04-10T15:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2011-04-11\/1741"},"modified":"2011-04-11T00:50:34","modified_gmt":"2011-04-10T15:50:34","slug":"the-towel-museum-in-imabari-japan-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2011-04-11\/1741","title":{"rendered":"The Towel Museum in Imabari Japan, Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\nNOTE<\/b>: Images with an icon next to them have been artificially shrunk to better fit your screen; click the icon to restore them, in place, to their regular size.\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 5000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nProbably Not What You Think<\/span>\n
Desktop-Background Versions<\/b>\n\n\nStandard: 1024×<\/span>768<\/a>  ·  1440×<\/span>1080<\/a>  ·  1600×<\/span>1200<\/a><\/small>     <\/span>\nWidescreen:  1280×<\/span>800<\/a>  ·  1680×<\/span>1050<\/a>  ·  1920×<\/span>1200<\/a>  ·  2560×<\/span>1600<\/a><\/small><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 @ 50 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nImposing and Stately<\/span>\nwhat could this building be?\n<\/div>\n\n

Where would you go to find towel haiku and see these riveting\npresentations like “Magical Towels of the Pharaohs<\/i>”? I know you<\/span>'re\ntempted to answer “The Towel\nMuseum<\/a>” in Imabari Japan, but alas, you'd be wrong. This post is a look<\/span>\nat what you would<\/i> find upon a visit<\/span> to this oddly-specific\ndestination, which we visited on the last day of our recent short trip to the city of\nImabari<\/a>, in Ehime Prefecture, Japan.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 @ 50 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>8000 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n“Towel Museum”<\/span>\nwith Anthony playing coy\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 @ 50 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>1250 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAt The Bus Stop<\/span>\nAnthony being less coy\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 @ 50 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 900 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nJust Inside the Entrance<\/span>\nAccording to the sign, the giraffe's name is apparently “Don't Climb On”\n<\/div>\n\n

On the way to the museum proper, you are funneled through three floors of towel stores of various types...<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 5600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStore #7 of 28<\/span>\n( I'm making up the numbers, but you get the drift )<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

You'd expect stores inside a “Museum” to be full of kitsch, but they were all really quite nice, with photogenic displays abounding...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 640 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTowels Shaped Like Baby Clothes<\/span>\nwall of color\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 1400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTasty-Looking Towels<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

Finally, just before entering the museum proper, you get to a room<\/span> full of fun displays all made of towel-related “stuff” (cotton, etc.)...<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBig Fun Stuff<\/span>\nmade of towels\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 2000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThe Most Fun Since Sliced Bread<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nYup, I Like Popcorn<\/span><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

Upon entering the museum proper, you find yourself in a ridiculously<\/span> long room that shows the towel-making process from start to finish...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 560 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEarly Stages with Raw Cotton<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNewly-Minted Thread<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 2800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTowel Programmer?<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 4500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAutomatic Loom<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

The orange thread guides (essentially long thin tubes in which the thread\ntravels without worry of getting tangled, I guess<\/span>) are, of course, the\nanswer to the More\nChallenging Imabari “What am I?” Quiz<\/a> from the other day. When viewing\nthe large size of the quiz photo, you can see smudges of dirt on the tubes that\nmakes it apparent that they're not actually thread, so officially no one\ngot the quiz correct, though guesses of “threads in a loom<\/span>” were impressively close.<\/p>\n\n

The image metadata includes a map location marked (in Japanese) as\n“Towel Museum” and “Ichihiro Ltd.<\/a> Towel Factory”, so that might have\nprovided a clue.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 1800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMulti-Colored Thread Guides<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

You then double back through a room of equally impressive length, including a 40<\/span>-meter long towel on one side...<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 5000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTowel Museum 40<\/span>-Meter-Long Towel<\/span>\n“woo-hoo!”\n<\/div>\n\n

On the other side were various kid-friendly displays whose connection to\ntowels was dubiously tangential, but fun is fun and we enjoyed it...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 1100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/13, ISO 1250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRelaxing With Towel Moomins<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

Moomin<\/a> is a\nScandinavian<\/span> children's character dating from the 1940s and still mildly\npopular in Japan, though likely nowhere else more than the Towel Museum,\nwhich could well be confused for a Moomin<\/span> Museum due to the immersive,\nsaturated Moomin presences.<\/p>\n\n

Then it was into a room with a wall of 1,800 large spools of thread...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 280 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWall of Thread<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>60 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 1000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSomehow Begging To Be Touched<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 5600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

Then it was off to a series of room with towel-related art (art rendered in towels, art made from towels, and other such excitements)...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 5600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/1.6, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>80 sec, f<\/span>\/1.6, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>80 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 1000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>80 sec, f<\/span>\/4.5, ISO 3200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

Back out at the third-floor shop just outside the Museum-proper\nentrance, Anthony was drawn to a big<\/span> stuffed Moomin placed near the isle\njust for that effect, I'm sure...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSnuggly Moomin<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 @ 50 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

I asked about the connection between Moomin and towels, since Moomin was\neverywhere in the stores and the museum. I thought<\/span> that maybe the author\nhad been from the area or something, but it turns out that Moomin is from\nScandinavia, and that the Towel Museum is simply a Moomin<\/span> licensee to the\napparent exclusion of other characters that would seem well suited to the\ntask (Snoopy, Hello Kitty, Miffy, Relax Kuma, etc).<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, it was fun, but the story is not over yet....<\/p>\n\n\n

Continued here...<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Where would you go to find towel haiku and see these riveting presentations like \"Magical Towels of the Pharaohs\"? I know you're tempted to answer \"The Towel Museum\" in Imabari Japan, but alas, you'd be wrong. This post is a look at what you would find upon a visit to this oddly-specific destination, which we visited on the last day of our recent short trip to the city of Imabari, in Ehime Prefecture, Japan.<\/p>

On the way to the museum proper, you are funneled through three floors of towel stores of various types...<\/p>

You'd expect stores inside a \"Museum\" to [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1741"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1741"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1741\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}