Consul-General Visits the Straits & Oriental Museum
2026/9/29
On September 29th, Mr. Shinya Machida, Consul-General of Japan in Penang, visited the Straits & Oriental Museum in George Town, where he received a briefing from Mr. Ooi Wei Ming, Founder of the Museum, and Dato’ Peter Cheah on the establishment of the Museum, its collections, and the history of maritime trade in Southeast Asia.
The Straits & Oriental Museum is a private museum featuring Chinese ceramics, historical documents, coins, furniture and works of art, including many items collected by Mr. Ooi over more than 20 years. Its exhibits include coins and documents relating to the early history of Penang, ceramics from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and Tang dynasty figures, offering visitors an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of China and Southeast Asia through authentic artefacts.
A particular feature of the Museum is its collection of Chinese ceramics recovered from several shipwrecks in Southeast Asian waters, illustrating the history of maritime trade linking China, Southeast Asia and Europe. The collection also includes Chinese ceramics formerly held by collectors in Japan. Mr. Machida and his hosts also exchanged views on the historical links between Chinese ceramics brought to Japan and the development of Japanese tea culture and ceramics.
Mr. Machida noted that the Museum provides an interesting perspective for understanding the history of Penang not only from the British colonial period onward, but also within the broader history of exchanges between Asia and the wider world, and expressed his hope that the Museum would become better known among visitors from Japan. The Consulate-General of Japan in Penang will continue to deepen its understanding of Penang’s history, culture and heritage, while working to promote further cultural exchange between Japan and Malaysia.
The Straits & Oriental Museum is a private museum featuring Chinese ceramics, historical documents, coins, furniture and works of art, including many items collected by Mr. Ooi over more than 20 years. Its exhibits include coins and documents relating to the early history of Penang, ceramics from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and Tang dynasty figures, offering visitors an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of China and Southeast Asia through authentic artefacts.
A particular feature of the Museum is its collection of Chinese ceramics recovered from several shipwrecks in Southeast Asian waters, illustrating the history of maritime trade linking China, Southeast Asia and Europe. The collection also includes Chinese ceramics formerly held by collectors in Japan. Mr. Machida and his hosts also exchanged views on the historical links between Chinese ceramics brought to Japan and the development of Japanese tea culture and ceramics.
Mr. Machida noted that the Museum provides an interesting perspective for understanding the history of Penang not only from the British colonial period onward, but also within the broader history of exchanges between Asia and the wider world, and expressed his hope that the Museum would become better known among visitors from Japan. The Consulate-General of Japan in Penang will continue to deepen its understanding of Penang’s history, culture and heritage, while working to promote further cultural exchange between Japan and Malaysia.
