In the fourth installment of this series, we finally venture to the Tetori Group, the mecca of dinosaurs in Japan.

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum (Katsuyama City)

As expected from Japan's only dinosaur museum, there's a rich selection of original dinosaur merchandise. Kazunari Araki designed the local Fukuisaurus and Fukuiraptor figures, but they are exclusive to the museum and can only be obtained there, causing their prices to more than double on Yahoo! Auctions. Of course, they are a must-buy, but like the National Museum of Nature and Science figures, I feel they lack the charm of a "souvenir from a trip." So, I'll recommend the two items in Photo 1 instead: a Fukuisaurus made from Chikuzen bamboo dolls and a Tyrannosaurus made of Chikuzen ware, which I bought at a souvenir shop across the parking lot from the museum.

Photo 1

By the way, the first time I went to Katsuyama was in 1991, long before the Dinosaur Museum was built. At that time, I had the Dinosaur Club arrange an appointment with the local Katsuyama Dinosaur Research Group. For some reason, they mistakenly thought I was an "important figure" from the Dinosaur Club's representative, and I was mortified and flustered to be greeted by three elderly gentlemen in formal attire at the station. I'll never forget it. Afterwards, I was deeply moved to be guided to the Kitadani excavation site, which was still unpaved and off-limits to the general public back then. Furthermore, I got to see what could truly be called a hidden treasure: miniature dinosaurs (complete with soldier figures! Photo 2) made in 1942 (during the war!), stored at the city hall. That evening, I even had an interview with the local TV news (which, unbelievably, seemed to have been arranged due to the aforementioned misunderstanding). It was an astonishing and eventful day. The souvenir I received then was the iron shield-like object (Photo 3) independently produced by the Dinosaur Research Group. It's a truly memorable item. I've visited Katsuyama several times since then, on Dinosaur Club trips and such, and the members of the Dinosaur Research Group have been very kind to me. As an aside, everyone was deeply impressed that the excavation site could be seen from the bathtub in the "Sugiyama Onsen" inn in Kitadani, where we stayed.

Photo 2

Photo 3

Kuwasato Museum

About a year before that, I had visited Shiramine in Ishikawa Prefecture, next to Katsuyama. The dome of "Hakusan Dinosaur Park Shiramine" on the hill was still a long way off. At that time, there was a "Kuwasato Museum" in a renovated farmhouse along the fossil cliff, displaying discovered teeth and footprints in a dimly lit room (Photo 4). There, I got a replica key chain of a Kagaryu tooth, which is now unobtainable (Photo 5). It's heavy and made of metal, and unfortunately, it doesn't have serrations, but it feels quite nice. Incidentally, a few years later when I visited the Dinosaur Park, there were no notable souvenirs, so I reluctantly bought a lantern (Photo 6).

Photo 4 Photo 5

Photo 6

Shokawa Village (now incorporated into Takayama City)

The windbreaker in Photo 7, designed by Takashi Oda, was produced in small numbers by Mr. Shimomura, a fossil hunter residing in Shokawa Village, and could only be purchased there. I bought it during a Dinosaur Club trip when he guided us to the excavation site (I was amazed when an iguanodon tooth emerged right before my eyes!). I wear it to dinosaur-related events to show it off.

Photo 7