The life of a museum curator.
Exploring, preserving, and telling history.

College of Arts and Sciences Graduates
Kokubunji City Board of Education, Education Department, Hometown Cultural Property Division, Historic Sites Section (Curator)

Yuma Noda

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No two jobs are exactly alike.

Currently, I work as a curator in the Local Cultural Properties Division at Kokubunji City Hall, mainly engaged in archaeological excavations of buried cultural properties within the city. As part of educational outreach activities, when elementary and junior high school students from within the city or neighboring areas visit the Musashi Kokubunji Ruins on field trips, I walk with them through the historical park and provide explanations of the exhibits in the museum.

The fascinating thing about archaeological excavation is that no two are exactly alike. Both pit dwellings and other structures, as well as artifacts like pottery and stone tools, differ in size, shape, and quantity, allowing us to gain new insights each time. Archaeological excavations are conducted under the national Cultural Properties Protection Law when development plans make it impossible to preserve underground sites. It's crucial to extract the maximum possible results within a limited timeframe, while referencing the history of surveys in the surrounding area. To put it somewhat crudely, it can feel like being a treasure hunter.

Because I was able to pursue what I loved, I was able to learn what I wanted to learn.

I enrolled in J. F. Oberlin University because I wanted to study museology. At the time of enrollment, I couldn't make museum studies my major, but by meeting professors like Professor Takako Ishiwata and Professor Atsushi Kaneko, who taught museum studies, I was able to complete all my courses. Unlike high school, university offers the joy of learning what you want to learn. I was not confined to a single academic field; I took classes across various other faculties, such as biology, environmental studies, nutrition, and the arts.

The good thing about J. F. Oberlin University is that you can pursue what you like. In my opinion, many students respected each student's individuality and found their opinions "interesting." I interacted with people with diverse personalities and received a lot of positive inspiration.

Develop multifaceted thinking skills.

Museums have four functions: collecting materials, conducting research, organizing and preserving them, and providing education and outreach. I love this job, but I must be mindful every day of acting in a way that sets a good example for citizens and children. The archaeological remains discovered during excavations and the excavated materials are the shared property of the nation. In order to return this knowledge to people in an easily understandable way, I will continue to approach my duties as a curator with awareness and pride, from research to reporting and outreach activities.

I want all students to pursue what they believe in and want to do. What I always keep in mind is that everything happens as a result of cause and effect. What you work hard at will inevitably come back to you. And the opposite is also true. You will make mistakes in judgment if you only look at things from one perspective. Always look at things from multiple angles and try to explore and pursue what you "love".

Yuma Noda

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During her studies, she focused on biology while also taking courses in museum curation. Her graduation research focused on the ecology of penguins. Currently, she has shifted her research focus from the sea to land and is working as a curator, investigating cultural properties in Kokubunji. Her hobbies include illustration and cosplay. She is also an illustrator and cosplayer who is actively involved in promoting Koganei City, where she was born and raised, and is expanding her activities in a wide range of fields.

Interview date:
This took place in June 2023.

The life of a museum curator.Exploring, preserving, and telling history.

Main content

No two jobs are exactly alike.

Because I was able to pursue what I loved, I was able to learn what I wanted to learn.

Develop multifaceted thinking skills.

Related content

The life of a museum curator.
Exploring, preserving, and telling history.