This spring, the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo is hosting a must-see event for nature enthusiasts and curious minds alike. From Saturday, March 14th to Sunday, June 14th, 2026, the museum will present the special exhibition "Extremely Dangerous Creatures: Tackling Living Creatures with Science."
The star attraction is the world's largest queen ant, famously dubbed the "Queen of the Sasurai Ants." This rare specimen made headlines during the TBS program Crazy Journey and is now on display in Japan for the very first time. Known for leading hordes of tens of millions of ants and consuming its prey with remarkable efficiency, the queen is a true apex predator of the insect world.
Measuring over 5 cm, with a shiny black abdomen filled with eggs, the queen can lay thousands daily and may live up to 30 years. Despite decades of research, encountering her in the wild is extremely rare. Thanks to Professor Munetoshi Maruyama and ant specialist Associate Professor Taku Shimada, who filmed the queen deep within a nest at the foot of Mount Kenya, this extraordinary creature can now be appreciated up close.
Visitors to the exhibition will also explore the biology and behavior of other "extremely dangerous" creatures, gaining a deeper understanding of life's incredible diversity and survival strategies.
Additional details and updates are available on the official website here. Please note that at the time of writing, ticket prices have not yet been confirmed.
