Toranomon Hills never fails to spark excitement, and now within its vibrant “TOKYO NODE” area, a brand-new, limited-time destination is drawing attention. Welcome to MUUUSE. Inspired by the muse of the arts, this innovative space is a music museum brought to life through a collaboration between TOKYO NODE and the renowned radio station J-WAVE. In this article, we’ll take you inside the immersive experience of MUSIC MUSEUM, offering a sneak peek at what makes this unique musical journey so unforgettable.
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Six Times the 3D Sound of a Movie Theater
MUUUSE is divided into three main exhibition areas, each representing the past, present, and future.
Upon entering, you’ll first step into the “Past” area. But we’re not talking about just a few years ago—this is a journey back to ancient memories of “natural sounds.” The sounds of ice particles, rustling leaves, and crackling fire, among others, unfold in a grand-scale movie. True to its theme as a museum of music, the immersive audio experience is incredible! This space is equipped with an immense 32.2 channel surround sound system. For comparison, a typical movie theater uses a 5.1 channel system, meaning this setup is more than six times the scale.
At the base of the planetarium-like celestial screen, bean bags are provided, allowing you to lie down and enjoy the experience in ultimate comfort. As the natural sounds rain down on you, it’s surprising how relaxed you feel—already, at the very beginning of the experience!
When you place your hand over the sphere in the center of the exhibition room, light gathers and different effects are triggered for each scene. For example, a fantastical flower may bloom, or dancing spirits may appear… Eventually, these effects are reflected on the large screen in the background, becoming part of the sound and visuals. Watching the things created from the palm of your hand spread throughout the space is oddly satisfying. You can’t help but feel like a god in the middle of creation.
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Celebrating with Home Appliances!
Between Exhibition Rooms 1 and 2, there is a mysterious float resembling a contemporary art installation. This float itself functions as a generator, and its energy is used to play various unused electronic devices as instruments, part of the “Electrónicos Fantásticos!” project. Upon closer inspection, one can spot items like a fan, barcode scanner, and traffic light among the components.
Electronicos Fantasticos! (also known as “NICOS”) is a project led by artist/musician Ei Wada, involving people from all walks of life to resurrect discarded electronics as new “electromagnetic instruments.” Through these efforts, the project gradually shapes a unique orchestra.
If you’re curious about how these instruments actually sound when played, be sure to check out the screen visuals as well. Remarkably, it all comes together as real festival music, and from a distance, you might not even realize that the parade consists of household electronics. I had to laugh at the half-moon-shaped “Okesa hats,” like the ones you see in Awa Odori, which are made from solar panels.
They’re also accepting festival ideas that incorporate household electronics. You can write your idea on a designated “imagination sheet” and drop it in the box—it just might come to life and echo through the festival someday!
