Special Exhibition SEX in NATURE: Mechanisms, Evolution, and Biodiversity

About

National Museum of Nature and Science’s First Special Exhibition Exploring the Diversity of Sex in Nature.

This special exhibition marks the first time the National Museum of Nature and Science has taken “sex” as its central theme, exploring the remarkable diversity of sexual characteristics and reproductive systems found throughout the living world.

Many things in life seem obvious at first glance, yet are surprisingly difficult to explain in depth. One of the most fundamental of these is sex. Sex is not unique to humans—it is a phenomenon found across the living world.

In many species, males and females produce sperm and eggs, respectively, which fuse through fertilization to give rise to the next generation. Yet the forms, mechanisms, and behaviors associated with sex are astonishingly diverse and vary greatly among species.

Some organisms change sex during their lifetime, while others have their sex determined by environmental factors such as temperature—examples that challenge our everyday assumptions.

Through perspectives including morphology, behavior, sex determination, and parenting, this exhibition scientifically explores the many ways in which sex manifests itself in the natural world.

What does “sex” mean for living things?

This exhibition explores the fundamental question.

General Outline

■Dates: October 31, 2026 (Sat) – February 21, 2027 (Sun)
■Venue: National Museum of Nature and Science (Ueno Park, Tokyo)
https://www.kahaku.go.jp/english/

■Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last admission: 4:30 PM)
■Closed: Mondays; November 4 (Wed), November 24 (Tue), December 28 (Mon) – January 1 (Fri, National Holiday), and January 12 (Tue)
※Please note that the museum will be open on November 2 (Mon), November 23 (Mon, National Holiday), January 11 (Mon, National Holiday), and February 15 (Mon).

■English Ticket Website:
※Please Select “English” at the top
https://art-ap.passes.jp/user/e/ikimono-sei-tokyo?lang=en