Kansai University Museum (KUM) opened in 1994. The previous museum was established in 1954 by the late Professor Emeritus, Suenaga Masao (1897-1991), together with Kansai University Archaeological Research Institute. The museum houses approximately 15,000 objects of archaeological, historical, ethnological, and artcraft contexts, as well as some natural-historical materials. The main objects came from the personal collection of Motoyama Hikoichi (1853-1932), the former president of the Mainichi Newspapers.

  There are two exhibition galleries, and the main exhibition gallery displays archaeological and historical objects, including 16 Important Cultural Properties (Juyobunkazai). The museum also offers special exhibitions and presents extension classes for the public.

  The KUM plays an important role in higher education, through academic research, programs in museum studies, and support for the archaeological training for university students.

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  In April 2010 the Kansai University Research Center for Cityscape and Cultural Heritage of Osaka was established as a part of the KUM activity. The main theme is “Historical analysis and preservation of cultural heritage in Osaka: forging a global center for its development and communication”.

Exhibition Room of Takamatsuzuka-kofun burial mound wall painting ceramic replica

  In March 1972, under the guidance of the Emeritus Professor Masao Suenaga, Assist. Prof. Yoshinori Aboshi led the students of Kansai University and discovered the ancient Takamatsuzuka-kofun burial mound wall painting. The discovery was called "the great discovery of the century" at the time.

  This replicated exhibition room shows richly colored figures of "Chinese Gods of four directions", "servant groups", "maid groups", "the sun and the moon", and "a map of astronomy" on the art ceramic boards which are in full-scale exactness based on the photographs taken just after discovery of the fresco detection and reproduced them an original state of the burial mound.