Pandemic Memories Talk Event @ National Museum of Nature and Science, Miraikan

A talk event titled "What Does the Fading Pandemic Leave Us? Considering Corona and Society Through the Drama 'Shinjuku Baseball Hospital'" will be held at the National Museum of Nature and Science, Miraikan, in Odaiba on Saturday, September 12, 2026. This event is a collaborative project between Science Agora 2026 and Miraikan.

Remembering the Pandemic and Lessons for the Future

Six years have passed since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and we are now living in a new normal. However, the experiences and emotions from that time, such as temperature checks, dining behind acrylic barriers, and anxiety about unseen infections, are gradually fading from memory. This event invites the director of the drama "Shinjuku Baseball Hospital," which depicted society during the pandemic, a virologist, and a historian of infectious diseases to delve deeply into the memories of the pandemic. Participants will consider how these experiences can be remembered and passed down as lessons for the next crisis.

Discussion with Esteemed Guest Speakers

The event will feature Professor Wataru Iijima of the Nagasaki University Institute of Tropical Medicine, specializing in the history of infectious diseases and working on preserving and transmitting records and memories of COVID-19; Shunshaku Kage, director who has handled many popular dramas for Fuji TV and directed "Shinjuku Baseball Hospital" in 2024; and Professor Satoshi Sato of the University of Tokyo Institute of Medical Science, a virologist who has announced world-class achievements in analyzing novel coronavirus variants and actively disseminates knowledge about infectious diseases to society. The discussion will be facilitated by Akiko Aoki, a science communicator from Miraikan, offering multifaceted perspectives on pandemic memories and the future.

Event Details

• Date & Time: Saturday, September 12, 2026, 14:00 - 15:30
• Venue: Miraikan Hall, 7th Floor, National Museum of Nature and Science
• Target Audience: All welcome (recommended for ages 15 and up)
• Capacity: 200 people
• Fee: Free
• Subtitles: Speech recognition subtitle application will be used to display subtitles in the venue.

Registration and Important Notes

This event requires advance registration and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be accepted until 5:00 PM on Friday, September 11, 2026, via the "Application Form" on the event's detail page. Registration closes once capacity is reached, so early application is recommended. Please note that cameras will be filming during the event, and footage may be used on the official website, social media, etc. If you do not wish to be filmed, please inform the staff. Photography and videography by attendees are prohibited.

Access

Venue: National Museum of Nature and Science, 2-3-6 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Stations: Yurikamome Tokyo Big Sight Station / Rinkai Line Kokusai-Tenjijo Station