Mika Arai became famous for building tiny museums. Her museums are small enough to fit on a desk, but they feel surprisingly important.

As a child, Mika loved visiting museums. However, she was shorter than most display cases. She often saw only the bottom of signs and the backs of adults.

When she was twenty-two, she made her first tiny museum in a shoebox. It showed the history of one lost button. There were three rooms: Before the Coat, Under the Sofa, and The Great Discovery.

Her friends laughed, then asked for tickets.

Today, Mika designs tiny museums for schools, libraries, and tired office workers. One popular exhibit is called The Museum of Things Found in Pockets. It includes old coins, folded notes, and one piece of gum that is not open to visitors.

Mika says small museums help people notice small stories. "Not every history needs a large building," she says. "Sometimes it only needs good lighting and a very serious label."

Her next project is a museum about forgotten passwords. She says the entrance may be difficult.