但馬牛博物館のホームページへようこそ。

　当館は兵庫県の北西部、美方郡新温泉町にあります。この地域は古くから牛の飼育が盛んで、但馬牛の故郷ともいえる場所です。現在、博物館登録制度に認定されている施設は1,400件以上ありますが（文化庁博物館総合サイト）、ひとつの地域の牛をテーマとした施設は全国でも唯一のものです。ちなみに館名は「たじまうしはくぶつかん」と読んでください。「たじまうし」は生きた牛、「たじまぎゅう」はその牛肉を指します。

　なぜこの地に但馬牛博物館が誕生したのでしょうか。かつて人々は一つ屋根の下で但馬牛と生活を共にし、但馬の風土の中で大切に牛を育んできました。明治時代には牛の戸籍にあたる「牛籍簿」が全国に先駆け整備され、現在でも美方郡は他地域の牛との交配を避ける閉鎖育種を続け世界的にも珍しい独自の系統を構築しています。現在ではその手法が全県に拡大され兵庫県産の黒毛和種「但馬牛」が形成されていますが、その礎となっているのが美方郡にルーツをもつ牛たちです。

　その独特な歴史は「人と牛が共生する美方地域の伝統的但馬牛飼育システム」として、2019年に畜産分野では初の日本農業遺産認定を受け、続く2023年に国連食糧農業機関（FAO）から世界農業遺産の認定を受けています。遺産といっても過去のものではありません。現在も但馬牛の伝統は脈々と伝わり、最先端の改良が人々の手により進められています。このようなオンリーワンの但馬牛のあらゆる特徴を広く皆さんに知って体験してもらうこと、そして但馬牛を守り後世に伝えていくことを目的として但馬牛博物館が設立されました。

　2018年に完全リニューアルされた館内へ一歩足を踏み入れると、まず但馬牛の大きな剥製が皆さんをお出迎えしてくれます。展示室では、但馬牛の定義、成り立ち、改良の歴史、飼育管理、美味しさの秘密など、子どもから大人まで見て聞いて触って楽しめるブースがあちこちに配置されています。展示室の中央では、全国の黒毛和種の99.9%に遺伝子を伝えたとされる但馬牛の名牛「田尻」号を模した巨大造形に映し出されるプロジェクションマッピング映像にきっと驚かれることでしょう。また2021年には、農業遺産認定を記念して「農業遺産体験館」が併設されました。ここでは但馬牛と共にあった当時の暮らしがまるごと再現されています。さらに但馬牧場公園内では生きた但馬牛を目にすることもでき、但馬牛のすべてが学べる施設となっています。

　この他にも、企画展、探検イベント、クイズ大会、映画鑑賞会など様々なイベントが開催されています。もちろん博物館には欠かせない資料収集・保管、研究業務にも取り組んでいます。集めた資料は1万点近くに上り、但馬牛の初心者から専門家まで幅広い方々にきっと満足いただける施設であると思っています。

　古来馬の良否を見極める目を持ち、牛馬の病気を治す人物を中国春秋時代の人名から「伯楽」と呼んでいます。当館には獣医師でもある但馬牛の名伯楽が2名常駐しており、皆さんのどのような疑問・質問にも喜んで答えてくれることでしょう。

　但馬牛博物館へのご来場を心よりお待ちしています。

　但馬牛博物館長　大山憲二

Welcome to the official website of the Tajima Cattle Museum.

　Our museum is located in Shinonsen Town, Mikata District, in the northwestern part of Hyogo Prefecture. This region has long been known for cattle raising and is considered the origin of Tajima cattle. While there are more than 1,400 officially registered museums in Japan (according to the comprehensive museum website of Agency for Cultural Affairs), ours is the only one in the country dedicated exclusively to a single regional breed of cattle. By the way, the name of our museum is pronounced Tajimaushi Hakubutsukan in Japanese. Tajima is the historical name for this region. Hakubutsukan means museum. The kanji characters can be read as either Tajimaushi or Tajimagyu, but we use ushi to refer specifically to the live cattle and gyu to the beef derived from them.

　Why was the Tajima Cattle Museum established in this region? In the past, people here lived under the same roof as their Tajima cattle, nurturing them with great care in harmony with the local climate and traditions. During the Meiji era, Japan’s first official cattle registry book was introduced in this area, ahead of the rest of the country. Even today, Mikata District practices closed breeding, a method that avoids crossbreeding with cattle from other regions. This rare approach has resulted in a unique and carefully maintained bloodline, recognized even on a global scale. While this breeding method has since been adopted across Hyogo Prefecture to establish the Tajima strain of Japanese Black cattle, the foundation of this lineage lies with the cattle originally bred in Mikata.

　This unique history was recognized in 2019 when the “Traditional Tajima Cattle Breeding System in Harmony with People and Nature in the Mikata Region” became the first livestock-related system to be designated as a Japan Agricultural Heritage. In 2023, it gained further international recognition as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. But this heritage is not just a thing of the past. The tradition of Tajima cattle breeding continues to thrive today, with advanced breeding practices being carried out by local people. The Tajima Cattle Museum was established to share the story and significance of these one-of-a-kind cattle with the world—to help visitors learn about, experience, and appreciate their many unique characteristics, and to support efforts to protect and pass down this cultural and agricultural legacy to future generations.

　When you step into the fully renovated facility, completed in 2018, you are first greeted by a large taxidermy mount of a Tajima cattle. Inside the exhibition hall, visitors of all ages can enjoy interactive displays that explain the definition of Tajima cattle, their origins, the history of their breeding, management practices, and the secrets behind their exceptional flavor. At the center of the exhibition space, you’ll be amazed by a projection mapping show cast onto a large model of the legendary Tajima bull “Tajiri,” known for passing on his genes to 99.9% of all Japanese Black cattle nationwide. In 2021, the Agricultural Heritage Experience Hall was added to commemorate the designation of Tajima cattle as part of Japan’s agricultural heritage. Here, you can experience a faithful recreation of daily life from the time when Tajima cattle were deeply integrated into people’s lives. In addition, within the Tajima Ranch Park grounds, you can also see live Tajima cattle, making this a facility where you can learn everything there is to know about this remarkable breed.

　In addition to these features, the facility regularly hosts a variety of special events, including themed exhibitions, exploration activities, quiz competitions, and film screenings. Naturally, as a museum, it is also dedicated to the important work of collecting, preserving, and researching materials. With nearly 10,000 items in its collection, the museum offers a rich resource that is sure to satisfy everyone from beginners to experts in the field of Tajima cattle.

　In ancient China, individuals with a keen eye for judging the quality of horses and the skills to heal cattle and horses were called “Bole”, named after a legendary figure from the Spring and Autumn period. At our museum, we are proud to have two resident “Bole” of Tajima cattle—both licensed veterinarians—who are always happy to answer your questions and share their expertise.

　We warmly invite you to visit the Tajima Cattle Museum and discover the rich heritage and fascinating world of Tajima cattle.

　Director of the Tajima Cattle Museum

　Prof. Kenji Oyama