Culpticon, a web application developed by Nagoya University researchers for viewing 3D-scanned cultural artifacts, will be showcased at the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) on April 20, 2025. The interactive event is being held in connection with an exhibition titled “Explore!! The History and Culture of Bahrain,” co-hosted by TOBUNKEN and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities.
Designed as an accessible tool for museums to display and interact with 3D image data, Culpticon has been collaboratively developed since 2021 by the Nagoya University Graduate School of Humanities, Graduate School of Informatics, and Nagoya University Museum (NUM). Following its trial launch at NUM in March 2022, the system has been successfully implemented at several cultural institutions, primarily in central Japan.
The upcoming workshop will challenge participant’s tactile perception and memory through an innovative exercise. Participants will first explore objects placed in opaque boxes using only their sense of touch. These objects include actual sekibō (ritual stone rods from 14,500 BCE-900 BCE) excavated in Hida, Gifu Prefecture, and replica seals excavated in Bahrain that were reproduced using a high-precision 3D printing technology. After tactile exploration, participants will attempt to match their impressions of the objects with the digital representations in Culpticon. This workshop has been made possible through collaboration with the Hida City Board of Education, the Sekibō Club, and TOPPAN Inc.
Through Culpticon, Nagoya University aims to bridge the gap between cultural heritage and public engagement by offering unique ways to experience objects held by municipalities and museums. Moving forward, it plans to continue to promote opportunities for cultural heritage interaction through events that leverage 3D data technologies. By strengthening partnerships with local governments, museums, and corporations, Nagoya University seeks to share the significance and value of cultural properties with increasingly diverse audiences.
For more information on the event in Japanese: https://www.tobunken.go.jp/info/event/2025/0420/
This article was originally published in Japanese and has been translated and edited for clarity and readability by the Nagoya University International Communications Office while preserving the original content’s intent. The original Japanese version is available here.
