Japan’s busy capital has a new open air museum. It’s open 24 hours, it’s free, and it’s everywhere. Tokyo’s Good Museum opened its doors on September 2016. If you want to visit it, just walk around the city, open your eyes and observe. Simply observe.
The ultramodern and traditional city founded Tokyo Good Museum with three fundamental pillars. To discover examples of good manners that make this city an amazing place to live in, to learn about civil behaviours through activities and workshops and to allow companies to share ideas and technologies to promote a culture of courtesy and good behaviour.
The museum was not opened due to a lack of good manners. On the opposite, it was founded for Tokyoites to be proud of their civilised and well grounded conduct. Additionally, it is a way for tourists to discover and appreciate the culture of courtesy and respect of the city and its people.
An internet survey conducted between August and September 2016 showed a dramatic gap between Tokyo’s citizens and foreign visitors. While 65% of visitors thought Tokyo was a city with good manners, only 25% of locals thought the same. A huge 40 point difference indicate a low self image of Tokyoites. On the same survey, 79% of foreigners observed the megalopolis as clean and tidy, compared to only 41% of locals. This difference of almost 30 points clearly show again the gap in image between the inbound tourists and Tokyo’s residents.
With these insights, Tokyo Good Museum will work in two main initiatives: manner curation and manner creation. The former will focus in spotlighting and recommending the good civilities in Tokyo. The latter seeks to create ideas and envision the concept of good manners.
The project is highlighting the idea of “Tokyo Good” to display what is good about Tokyo and for its people to take pride on their city and their manners. On the same direction, the concept wants to generate attention on tourists for them to observe civil behaviour as a cultural element of Japan’s capital. Tokyo Good Museum is expecting and promising to have a great impact on both of these work streams.
