《All Life is Connected 》

Join us for an exhibit that both kids and adults can enjoy!
All life on planet Earth started as a tiny, single celled organism 3.8 billion years ago. Over the course of time, a diverse array of creatures have miraculously developed as the result of a process called "Evolution". In this exhibition, you can see fossils and biological specimens that illustrate this amazing evolutionary journey over time.

The Ryukyu Islands are home to a treasure trove of unique species that have evolved independently on each island. This has attracted attention from around the world, and some areas have been registered as World Natural Heritage sites. To truly appreciate their value, it is important to have a solid understanding of the history of evolution that living creatures in these areas have undergone.

This exhibition we will first give an overview of "biological diversity" and then provide a historical overview of the evolution of life. Next, we will deepen our understanding of the "mechanisms of evolution" by focusing on Darwin's theory. We will then introduce the many "miracles" brought about by evolution, stimulating further understanding and interest. Finally, we will examine the living creatures of the Ryukyu Islands from an evolutionary perspective, constructing displays to help you discover and appreciate their fascinating and precious nature.

About 3.8 billion years ago, the very first living thing was born. It was just a tiny little cell. That cell was able to make a copy of itself, which became its child. And then that child made another child, and so on. Over many generations, living things slowly "evolved". They branched out and became a diverse group of creatures. We humans are just one small branch of the magnificent "tree of life". In this chapter, we illustrate the "diversity" of living things and the "connections" between them.

All living things on Earth have evolved from a single cell. This means that every living thing is related to each other. If we go back in time and trace our ancestors, we should come to a point where all the branches converge. In this chapter, we will go back in time to explore the history of human evolution. We'll follow the tree of life from its branches to its trunk and introduce you to various fossils and living organisms along the way. And finally, we will arrive at the common ancestor of all living things on Earth.

Long ago when Darwin first shared his theory of evolution, everyone believed that every living thing was created by God. Even Darwin didn't question this belief at first. However, during his voyage on the Beagle, he began to think that living things had changed slowly over a long period of time. To support his theory, Darwin spent over 20 years researching and gathering evidence. The theory he eventually published still holds strong today, over 160 years later, and continues to be the foundation of biology. In this chapter, we will focus on Darwin's theory and learn more about how evolution works.

All living creatures have unique and amazing characteristics. There are insects that look like leaves or twigs, and creatures that can fly through the air! These miracles were brought about by "evolution". Some creatures may appeal to you more than others, but they are all equally elite creatures who have developed unique strategies and won fierce battles of competition for survival over a 3.8 billion year period. Here, we will introduce the many miracles brought about by "evolution". Please join us and experience the enjoyment of looking at living things from the perspective of "evolution".

The Ryukyu Islands are home to many unique creatures that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. These creatures are called "endemic species". How did these endemic species come to be? The answer lies in the history of the Ryukyu Islands and the evolution of its creatures. In this chapter, we will introduce the creatures that are familiar to us in Okinawa from an evolutionary perspective. By learning about the episodes of the evolution of these creatures, we can come to understand why the natural environment of Okinawa is so precious. And we may come to cherish the creatures of Okinawa even more as a result.