Specimens of a small marine organism collected by the late Emperor Hirohito were for the first time shown to the public Tuesday in Tokyo, where they have been returned after nearly 80 years of being housed at a Belgium science institute.
The specimens of hydrozoa are on display at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno, Taito Ward, until Dec. 7. They were discovered in the archives of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels.
The specimens, which belong to the phylum Cnidaria, which also contains jellyfish and sea anemones, are being showcased along with a microscope used by the Emperor, who is known posthumously as Emperor Showa.