The Senzan Maru, a whaling ship in the livery of the Tokushima Fiefdom, is the only ship of its kind in the world, as it is the only Edo-period, Japanese-made vessel to survive to the present day. Designated an Important National Treasure, the Senzan Maru has long generated interest among shipbuilding researchers but was little known to the general public. Today the Museum has a long-awaited opportunity to demonstrate the historical value of the Senzan Maru to a wider audience.