Japanese Sculpture’s Birds Let Visually Impaired Feel Them; Sound System Plays Birds’ Calls

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:37 JST, April 11, 2026

CHIBA — A museum’s new set of bird sculptures equipped with sound allow visually impaired people to feel the shape and size of the birds while listening to their calls.

Ten life-size bird sculptures were recently introduced at the Abiko City Museum of Birds in the Konoyama district of Abiko, Chiba Prefecture. The sculptures are attached to a sound system that plays the birds’ call.

Sculptor Haruo Uchiyama, 76, who resides in the city specializes in the carving of wild birds. He created the sculptures, which include a sparrow, starling, kingfisher and the city’s official bird, the common coot. Visitors press a button labeled with the bird’s name to hear its call.

Since opening in 1990, the museum has had a system that plays the bird calls. However, the calls of the birds only corresponding to photographs of them. In addition, the system sometimes didn’t work due to aging, according to the museum.

To introduce bird carvings equipped with a new sound system, the city launched a crowdfunding campaign in October and November with a goal of ¥2.7 million. The city surpassed its goal, raising ¥2.73 million from 84 supporters.

The sculptures were unveiled at a ceremony on March 24. Hideko Murakoshi, a resident of the city who is visually impaired, said she was surprised by how sharp a kingfisher’s beak feels. “Since every bird is depicted in such detail, I felt like I was actually seeing them,” Murakoshi said.

Sculpture Uchiyama said, “I would be happy if visitors to the museum are able to find the connection between the call and the shapes of the bird to understand them.”