A Japanese in a Hokkien building
Takumi Minami, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Music Box Museum – that's right, a museum for the quaint music box – welcomed me warmly as I stepped into the historical site of Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (福建会馆), a building with a heritage that goes back to the year 1913 or earlier. (Those were the days of famous people like Tan Tock Seng and Tan Kah Kee).
I was there to visit an exhibition by the artist Tsuyumi Miwa, who has been in Singapore for close to a decade.
“This exhibition is a token of our friendship,” Takumi-san explained, referring to the artist Tsuyumi-san and Tsuyumi-san's husband.
“At first I sold music boxes at this museum, but later I wanted it to be more educational. I want to leave something to the coming generations,” Takumi-san continued.
Yes, the museum is located where the Hokkien Huay Kuan used to be. Doesn't it reflect the cultural melting pot that is Singapore?
(I visited the museum on 26th May, 2021).