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John Lennon Museum Uprooting from Japan
A Japanese museum honoring legenary Beatle John Lennon is closing its doors after a decade of bringing Beatlemania-themed history to the land of the rising sun, according to the exhibition's general manager Junichi Mizusawa.
Located near Tokyo, The John Lennon Museum was the first such museum on the planet to gain the approval of Lennon's widow Yoko Ono. Now that the museum's 10-year agreement is not being renewed, all mementos and exhibits will be returned to her.
On display were about 130 pieces once owned or created by Lennon, including guitars, lyric sheets, letters and more. Over half a million visitors have viewed the exhibit since its opening in October 2000, on the 60th anniversary of Lennon's birth.
"After 10 years here, John's spirit is now moving on - looking onward to the next journey. Thanks to your love for the museum, what we'd thought would be five years became 10," said Ono regarding the closing.
"John Lennon's destiny spanned the whole world. His spirit came alive through movement, and without movement, it dies. If the Museum which houses his spirit never moved, it would be a grave, not a Museum. John does not have a grave. When he passed on, I publicly announced that I would not be holding a funeral for him. I did so because I knew his spirit would live forever."
Image used with permission by Getty Images.
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