“Shika Sonic” and “Bird Sonic” featured on Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Portal
image: Professor Yoshichika Tsuji (right) installs a Bird Sonic unit alongside the runway at Kansai International Airport on June 3, 2025, as part of efforts to reduce bird strikes using high-frequency sound technology.
Credit: Okayama University of Science
On January 9, the website of Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) featured an article on a “high-frequency wildlife damage mitigation system.” The initiative was introduced on the Chugoku Regional Bureau of Telecommunications’ DX portal as an example of how universities and colleges of technology are addressing regional challenges through collaboration. The article highlights the Shika Sonic and Bird Sonic systems, outlines their future prospects, and includes commentary by Masachika Tsuji, Specially Appointed Professor at the Organization for Research and Community Collaboration of Okayama University of Science (OUS).
The system was developed by T.M.WORKS, an automotive parts manufacturer based in Yamanashi Prefecture. Professor Tsuji has been responsible for verifying its effectiveness. To date, Bird Sonic units designed to reduce aircraft bird strikes have been installed at nine airports in Japan, including Kansai International Airport, Osaka International Airport (Itami), and Chubu International Airport. Shika Sonic units have been deployed along railway lines, in highway patrol vehicles, and in areas such as Nanto City in Toyama Prefecture for bear deterrence.
In May 2025, Professor Tsuji reported on the effectiveness of 18 Bird Sonic units installed at Osaka International Airport. Because the system adjusts frequencies according to specific bird species, he noted that it may be less effective against non-target species, making it necessary in some cases to deploy multiple frequency settings tailored to the birds present in a given area.
He also addressed challenges caused by crows, which have in some cases damaged the equipment. There have been numerous reports of birds perceiving the devices as threats, pecking at speakers and causing damage, or reducing solar power generation by defecating on the panels. Professor Tsuji concluded by emphasizing the need to explore additional methods to further enhance the system’s effectiveness.