I am collecting Takahashi original pins and am tdsrying to connect with other collectors to trade or sell duplicates.  If you can let me know who I can contact or anyone reading the Guest Book have duplicates or pins/pin sets they would like to sell, I would be honored to include in my own family collection.  I am here is Virginia and never see any pins at estate auctions or in antique stores.

I was a friend of the Takahashi family. I spent time in their home in Garden Grove, CA and I was friends with the sons. The largest bird carved was a Scissor-tail flycatcher. Mr. $ Mrs. T. made it as a gift for Cindy Butterfield who now lives in Arisona. It is over 8 inches long. I have 30 birds and I know that the most expensive was $35 at the time. I asked Mrs. T. if she would do a Wood Duck for me. When it was finished she made it a gift. Lovely, kind people. Tim Kraushaar Seal Beach, CA

My first Bird Pin was given to me by my girlfriend Mary Yashioka in 1946.  She and her family had been in an internment camp in California where her family learned the art of carving and painting little birds pins.   When she came to my school in Lawndale California in 1946 we became best friends. She gave me a little bird pin that was resting on a twig. Her father had carved the little bird while they were in the camp. I loved my little yellow bird pin.  It was so beautiful.  It was taken from me in 1970 during a home break in.  I was devistated. It was taken from hand, but it will always remain in my heart.
When I found out about the Takahashi Bird Pins In 2012 I started my flock.  I now have about 60 Takahashi Bird Pins and looking for more to add to my beautiful flock.  I treasure them with all my heart.  What a wonderful tresure the Takahashi's left us to love as they did.
Thank You, Mr & Mrs Takahashi.  Your art will live forever and give so many such joy. We Honor You.

I have two Takahashi birds that belonged to my Grandmother many years ago - they were her treasures and she wore one or the other always, so they hold very special memories for me. I knew they were special, but did not realize just how special until I started researching them on the web. I now have them framed, with the history of their creation, and how my Grandma acquired them "around WWII time-frame and how everyone was wearing them" in my Grandmother's writing on the back of the frame. My only problem is, I'm not sure which birds they are. I believe one is a bluebird, but don't recognize the second. I love both of them, though, and will always treasure "my Takahashi birds."

Hey Carol..... I just Googled Takahashi birds and I found this site. Well I hope all is well!

Happy Holidays,
David

I currently have four pairs of beautiful authentic near mint Takahashi male and female pins - 2 cardinals, 2 golden crowned kinglets, 2 thrush and 2 orioles (all of them besides the cardinals have their original cards and all of them have push pin backs). I believe these were made in the 1950s. I am trying to find out their value and where best to sell them. Any advice that you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

By the way, I noticed that the bird that you have listed as a scarlet tanager is actually the golden crowned kinglet. Thought you might want to know.

I have a cardinal bird and am wondering if it is a Takahaski bird.  The pin is the small pin like the picture, not the pin with screws.  But, there is a number or letters under the pin in the middle on the small wood part that isn't painted.  It looks like either 14 or 1H.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thank you.

I just have to be part of this web-site. Only a week ago I found out that I have a treasure. I have had a Red Cardinal and the Red Cardinal earrings for over 30 years. Having my husband ready to retire and down sizing to a very small Condo it was time to sell my  bauble jewelry collection. In that collection I had the bird display. I came across the Birds on the internet while searching for other brooch/earring sets. WHAT A FIND !!! Wow! I didn't know I had a true small treasure of beauty and Takahashi History.... I have talked to the grand daughter and she tells me I have a special set. Yay! Yay! for the person who purchases it.

thank you for the photos and the posted comments! I have a hummingbird, but have not been successful finding it on any site
as a Takahashi, I am pretty sure it is the pinback is applied with the push pins mentioned..I imagine they did many hummingbirds. Any help would be appreciated. Cay

The Takahashis used to live down the street from me, I use to love hearing my mom tell me their story of creating the birds.

I have 15 birds, 9 signed, 13 in orignial box and card.

You should of seen the birds that they made when they were in the camps, large eagles, beautiful.

nice presentation
and w wonderful collection
Manon Kavesky

Many of the people who were relocated at the Poston Relocation Center in Poston, Arizona during 1942-1945 learned the craft of carving animals and making these bird pins to pass time.

Did anybody except Takahashi make similar birds?  I have a pair of little wooden bird pins that were my grandmother's; the painting is not as vivid as your Takahashis and the pin back is not attached with either push pins or screws; it was apparently set into a dollop of varnish and allowed to dry.  I know my grandmother had these birds in the 1950s; I do not know whether they were a gift from my aunt (who was living in Sacramento in the late 1940s), my father (who was in Korea at the end of WWII), or where else they could have come from.  I suspect they're either knockoffs (in which case they're OLD knockoffs) or independent creations.

Thanks so much for posting the photos and information about these wonderful birds! I immediately recognized the bluebird as one I have in my collection. the perching angle is different but the painting is identical and pushpins are used on the pinback. There is no signature.

contact Japanese American Museum in Little Tokyo curator to see if they can verify whether you have a real Takahashi bird.

I have 2 of what I believe are Takahashi bird pins, one is a hummingbird and the other looks like an oriole maybe neither are signed, both had brass pinbacks with pushpins but one has lost a pin and the other back lost completely at this time (I am looking for it). These pins have been in my family my whole life and I am 47, I have no idea where they came from but that my great grannie had them and they possibly could have come from my grandmothers thrift store in Garden Grove back in the 50's and 60's. I have been looking for info as to how I can tell if they are originals and what value do they have. Please let me know if you have any info

V Meierl

I've known the Takahashi's my hole life.  The pins were all hand made and painted.  Hello to the boys.

I grew up in the house next to the Takahashi's home in Garden Grove.  I believe part of the reason you may find the signings on the birds inconsistent, is because they often welcomed visitors into their homes and would sign their birds for them, from what I'm told.

They were wonderful neighbors and Mr. Takahashi grew a mean tomato.

Hi Cathy, love your Takahashi pics, very helpful. Do you know if all of the pins were signed? Were any of them unsigned, and if so, what time period? Barb

Hi Cathy,
Beautiful presentation! I also collect these beautiful pins. Out of the over 230 bird pins that I own around 85 are Takahashi birds.
Take care,
Karla