Moraes Memorial Museum, Biographical museum on Mount Bizan, Tokushima, Japan
The Moraes Memorial Museum sits at the summit of Mount Bizan and honors the Portuguese writer Wenceslau de Moraes who made Japan his home. The displays include his belongings, photographs, and a reconstructed study where visitors can see how he lived and worked during his time here.
A Portuguese naval officer arrived in Japan in 1899 and settled there, documenting the country for over two decades until his death in 1929. The museum was established in 1976 to preserve his legacy and the record he left behind.
The writer lived in Japan for decades and documented how he bridged two distant cultures through his observations and literary works. His collection shows how outsiders can become deeply connected to a place and influence how others perceive it.
Mount Bizan can be reached easily by public transportation from central Tokushima, with multiple ways to get to the summit available. Depending on your preference, you can take a cable car or walk, so it helps to check which option works best for your visit.
The museum preserves the original handwritten manuscripts of the writer, including his detailed notes on Japanese tea ceremonies and daily life. These documents reveal how he observed the country day by day and recorded his findings in real time.
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