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User Guide

Meet Ryotan,
Ryozen Museum of History’s new mascot!

Ryozen Museum of History’s official mascot Ryotan. Ryotan is the old stone lantern at the entrance to the museum. He hails from Tokyo, where he once stood in the garden of Kido Takayoshi’s house. Though he learned a lot about Bakumatsu history from Kido, he’s always eager to find out more by talking to the museum’s staff. Normally sedentary, he’s known to enjoy occasional walks in the neighborhood. Incidentally, it’s said that his name comes from the English word “lantern.” Ryozen Museum of History’s official mascot Ryotan. Ryotan is the old stone lantern at the entrance to the museum. He hails from Tokyo, where he once stood in the garden of Kido Takayoshi’s house. Though he learned a lot about Bakumatsu history from Kido, he’s always eager to find out more by talking to the museum’s staff. Normally sedentary, he’s known to enjoy occasional walks in the neighborhood. Incidentally, it’s said that his name comes from the English word “lantern.”
Age is Over 150 (10 in human years). Birthday is October 6. Hometown is Komagome, Tokyo. Current home is Ryozen Museum of History. Age is Over 150 (10 in human years). Birthday is October 6. Hometown is Komagome, Tokyo. Current home is Ryozen Museum of History.
Personality is Though normally quiet and somewhat timid in a stony sort of way, he becomes very animated when talking about the Bakumatsu period. Personality is Though normally quiet and somewhat timid in a stony sort of way, he becomes very animated when talking about the Bakumatsu period.
Most attractive feature is His big, wide-open mouth. Inside is a flame that grows bigger or smaller depending on his mood. Favorite foods are konjac jelly, anything with sesame seeds in it and desserts from Sannenzaka (A taste he developed on his walks around the neighborhood). Most attractive feature is His big, wide-open mouth. Inside is a flame that grows bigger or smaller depending on his mood. Favorite foods are konjac jelly, anything with sesame seeds in it and desserts from Sannenzaka (A taste he developed on his walks around the neighborhood).
Strengths is Hide-and-seek. Weaknesses are anything besides Bakumatsu history (when people talk about other things, he ignores them and pretends to be an ordinary stone lantern) and drawing his sword. Strengths is Hide-and-seek. Weaknesses are anything besides Bakumatsu history (when people talk about other things, he ignores them and pretends to be an ordinary stone lantern) and drawing his sword.
Kido Takayoshi’s stone lantern: This stone lantern once stood in the garden of Kido Takayoshi’s home in Komagome, Tokyo. Kido’s primary residence was located in Kudankita, near today’s Imperial Palace. In 1869 he built a secondary residence in Komagome (formerly Somei village), on the estate of hatamoto Hongo Yasukata of Tango Province (now part of Kyoto Prefecture). Today, a stone monument marks the spot where Kido’s house stood, indicating that Emperor Meiji once visited it. The lantern, which stands 3.3 meters tall, was commissioned by Kido in the Meiji period and is carved of stone from Mikawa Province (now part of Aichi Prefecture). It was installed at Ryozen Museum of History in January 2012. Kido Takayoshi’s stone lantern: This stone lantern once stood in the garden of Kido Takayoshi’s home in Komagome, Tokyo. Kido’s primary residence was located in Kudankita, near today’s Imperial Palace. In 1869 he built a secondary residence in Komagome (formerly Somei village), on the estate of hatamoto Hongo Yasukata of Tango Province (now part of Kyoto Prefecture). Today, a stone monument marks the spot where Kido’s house stood, indicating that Emperor Meiji once visited it. The lantern, which stands 3.3 meters tall, was commissioned by Kido in the Meiji period and is carved of stone from Mikawa Province (now part of Aichi Prefecture). It was installed at Ryozen Museum of History in January 2012.