Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) President & CEO Takeshi Hashimoto announced that the MOL Museum “Funeshiru,” featuring hands-on and interactive displays, will open in Osaka Saturday, July 19.
A preliminary opening ceremony was held Friday, July 18, with many special guests on hand, including local officials. After the ceremony, visitors were able to experience the exhibits during a preview event.
The museum features the world’s first 310-degree LED screen navigation simulator(Note) for the general public, a 30-meter-wide immersive theater showing various giant vessels, and interactive art walls, where visitors’ drawings of ships come to life. Children, especially elementary and junior high school students can experience the ships that support people’s lives by “seeing,” “touching,” and “playing” with them.
The museum is adjacent to the MOL Sunflower, Ltd. ferry terminal and offers events and exhibitions that the whole family can enjoy, such as ship tours (scheduled to begin in August 2025). It also has café and gift shop, where visitors can purchase museum-exclusive merchandise.
Through the museum’s hands-on and interactive exhibits, MOL seeks to raise awareness among as many people as possible about the scale of shipping, the role of ships in daily life, the work involved in shipping, and the future of the industry, thereby creating MOL fans, promoting maritime education, and building consciousness of the need for environmental protection.
According to MOL research, this is the world’s first full-sale, 310-degree LED screen navigation simulator for the general public.
