Museums Tap Into Smell – Even Horse Manure – to Deepen Cultural Connections
What does it take to forge a genuine connection between people and endangered cultural heritage? Researchers at Nagoya University and Gifu University in Japan suggest the answer may lie in an unexpected approach: engaging all the senses, even those often considered unpleasant, like the smell of horse manure.
Their research, published in the Journal of Museum Education, demonstrates that structured multisensory experiences can shift public perception of heritage from something distant and extraordinary to something personally relevant. Museums have long struggled to translate public recognition of cultural significance into meaningful engagement, with visitors often appreciating historical importance without feeling a personal connection.
The Kiso Horse as a Case Study
The study focused on Japan’s native Kiso horse, a breed historically used for agricultural work and transport in the mountainous Kiso region. Survey analysis revealed that while visitors recognized the Kiso horse as a valuable cultural resource, they tended to view it as belonging to a separate, “extraordinary” world, disconnected from their daily lives.
To bridge this gap, the researchers developed the Sense-Science-Significance (S-S-S) model. This educational framework guides visitors through a progression: direct sensory experience, analytical understanding and finally, reflection on cultural and ecological value. “We want visitors to feel that heritage belongs to their world, not just to an exhibition case,” explains Ayako Umemura, a designated assistant professor at Nagoya University Museum.
A Breed Nearly Lost
The Kiso horse, one of Japan’s eight surviving native breeds, faced near extinction in the 20th century due to a government policy favoring larger horses for military use. The breed’s survival is largely attributed to Dai-san Haruyama, a purebred stallion who sired approximately 700 foals. His skeleton is now preserved at the Nagoya University Museum.
Engaging the Senses: From Hooves to Manure
Initial research, stemming from a 2022-2023 exhibition centered around Dai-san Haruyama, highlighted the disconnect between recognizing the horse’s cultural importance and feeling a personal connection. To address this, a second exhibition at the Kiso Town Cultural Exchange Center in 2024 put the S-S-S model into practice.
Visitors were encouraged to engage their senses directly. They could handle and compare hoof models from Kiso horses and Thoroughbreds, noting the Kiso horse’s “plump and endearing” hoof shape and its adaptation to mountainous terrain. Crucially, they also smelled horse manure at different stages of fermentation, gaining a tangible understanding of horse husbandry. Archival recordings of traditional Kiso horse markets further immersed visitors in the breed’s history.
Each sensory experience was paired with scientific context, prompting visitors to consider the horse’s biology, ecology, and history. Survey results from 75 participants showed a positive impact, with visitors reflecting on previously unconsidered aspects of horse care and providing concrete, expressive responses when asked about the Kiso horse.
A Replicable Framework
The S-S-S model has been implemented in over 30 museum education events annually at Nagoya University Museum, covering diverse topics and reaching audiences of all ages. Researchers believe the framework’s principles – raising awareness, sustaining engagement, and linking conservation with education – are applicable to museums worldwide and across various cultural heritage contexts.
“The framework is not intended as a prescriptive solution, but as a flexible guide that educators can adapt to their own context,” Umemura stated.