Case Study: Yamagata Prefectural Museum achieves preservation and public engagement with Stratasys 3D printing

3D Printing Recreates History Yamagata Prefectural Museum Uses 3d Printing To Recreate A National Treasure

Yamagata Prefectural Museum sought a way to preserve and share a 4,500‑year‑old Jomon Goddess national treasure while letting visitors touch and study the piece without risking the original. The museum partnered with Stratasys and used the Objet30 Pro 3D Printer with PolyJet technology to reproduce the sculpture with the fine detail and surface finish required for accurate, interactive replicas.

Stratasys’ solution produced life‑size and 1:3 VeroWhite replicas that captured intricate patterns and textures; a full‑scale model printed in about 20–30 hours and smaller copies in 3–4 hours. The Stratasys prints enabled hands‑on learning, traveling exhibits and expanded research access, generated widespread media attention and helped the museum reach roughly 45,000 annual visitors, demonstrating clear gains in engagement and preservation.

Yamagata Prefectural Museum

Susumu Abe

Vice Director