Yanmar Museum Brings Fun To Farm Machinery

OSAKA (Nikkei)--Leading agricultural machinery manufacturer Yanmar Co. will open Thursday a new museum featuring hands-on exhibits designed to be both entertaining and educational.

Part of the firm's centennial celebration, the Yanmar Museum is in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture -- the birthplace of Yanmar founder Magokichi Yamaoka. The company expects an annual 150,000 or so visitors, including families and schoolchildren.

The first tiller developed by Yanmar is on display. Hands-on exhibits include a space where people can operate a real mini-excavator to scoop up balls.

In a corner, a footbath uses water warmed with a rooftop cogeneration system built by Yanmar. The company will also open a farm at the museum in May to grow vegetables, plant rice, and let visitors get a taste of agricultural machinery in action.

An on-site power generator also enables the museum to serve as a refuge for local residents during blackouts.

(The Nikkei Business Daily, March 21 edition)

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