Faculty Introduction Ja

TAKEGAWA, Yoshinari

Professor

Message for Students

A dancer once said, "I want to be the best rather than the strongest." Eventually, this dancer became the best in the world—not because they aimed at being the strongest, but because they pursued excellence. I hope I can foster the same attitude in my students and help them find something they are passionate about. Rather than comparing themselves to others, I encourage them to measure themselves against their own progress. When something is enjoyable, interesting, and captivating, recognition naturally follows. Through research activities, I interact with students every day, hoping they become proud of themselves, gain confidence, and learn to appreciate who they are.

Attractive Factors of My Research

Harnessing my expertise in UI/UX, AI, design, interaction, and psychology of perception & cognition, I’ve created many products, experiences and works of research. Every day, advancements in UI and AI captivate the world—by keeping pace and creatively merging these fields, I uncover new technologies, deliver novel experiences, and explore human potential. It’s a dynamic, thrilling field filled with endless excitement and discovery.

Contact (Replace _at_ to @)

Email: yoshi_at_fun.ac.jp

Achievements

Research Contents

  • Human Computer Interaction
  • Animal Computer Interaction
  • Entertainment Computing
  • Sports Technology
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Music and Computer
  • Human Augmentation
  • Human-Agent Interaction
  • Wearable Computing
  • Intelligent User Interface
  • Learning Support System / Gamification
  • UI/UX Design
  • XR(VR, MR, and AR) Design
  • Cognitive Science

School of the Future – Supporting That “I Did It!” Moment

School of the Future is all about empowering people to experience that joyful “I did it!” feeling. Our research supports learning in a wide range of areas — not only academic fields like math, but also skills that connect the body, mind, and heart, such as playing instruments, singing, dancing, drawing, calligraphy, cooking, handicraft, sports, programming, English conversation, and gaming.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. We’ve all felt frustrated when things don’t go as planned. That’s why School of the Future explores questions like: “What’s the secret to mastering something?” “How can we improve faster?” “How do we make learning fun?” “What makes online lessons effective?”

From strategies for achieving goals to supporting the learning journey itself, we take on these challenges from multiple perspectives — all to bring more of those magical “I did it!” moments to learners everywhere.

Web page of School of the Future

Lifestyle of the Future – Realizing your unique desires

We live in a world overflowing with things and services. But many universal, problem-solving products have already been created. The next wave of innovation comes from a different place — your personal wants.

Lifestyle of the Future focuses on personalized creations that start with “I wish I had this” and end with tailored products or experiences that fit just right. Past projects include: a digital mask that allows you to change your face like you would change your clothes, a wearable speaker hoodie that brings live concert vibes to online events, and a stress-free diet assistant that supports you with ease.

By starting with your unique wants, we bring color, joy, and surprise to everyday life!

Safari of the Future – Co-Creating with Animals

Safari of the Future is a unique collaboration with Fuji Safari Park, Japan’s largest safari park.

Here, we blend the seemingly opposite worlds of technology and nature to ask: What new experiences can IT bring to the world of animals and their habitats? How can we enrich the environment for animals?

It’s not just about the human visitors, caretakers, or veterinarians — the animals themselves are also at the heart of this project.

For example: “PokeRepo Safari” is a live-streaming system co-created with zookeepers that lets you watch lively animals from home. By combining that with the “Living Stuffed Toy,” you can even feel the animal’s breathing — a truly immersive experience. The “ELEG” project explores communication with elephants. These are just a few examples. The safari park is filled with exciting opportunities for IT to enhance both human and animal experiences. That’s what Safari of the Future is all about!

These are just a few examples. The safari park is filled with exciting opportunities for IT to enhance both human and animal experiences. That’s what Safari of the Future is all about!

Questions of the Future – Dig Deeper into Your Everyday Curiosities

Questions of the Future dives deep into how we think, feel, and behave using cognitive psychology and UX research methods.

Smartphones, apps, and social media greatly influence our behavior and mindset — and with them come social issues like looking at a phone instead of one’s surroundings while walking, online conflicts, fake news, and digital exclusion. That’s why we ask: “How can we overcome communication anxiety?” “Why do people get nervous?” “What’s needed to change behavior?” “How do we collaborate effectively online?”

As subscription-based models become more common, it’s not enough to just sell products — people need to want to keep using them. And in a world full of options, standing out is harder than ever. In Questions of the Future, we use the UX (User eXperience) research method to tackle questions like: “How do we discover new user segments?” and “What do they really want?”

Your everyday questions — what we call ‘research questions’ — might just lead to surprising insights!

Sports Tech of the Future – Partnering with Pro Athletes

Sports Tech of the Future is a joint research initiative with Japan’s High Performance Sports Center, a core facility that supports Olympic athletes in achieving peak performance.

We work alongside top researchers and athletes to help them reach their goals — whether it’s through millimeter-accurate motion capture, intuitive data visualizations, easy-to-use in-game interfaces, or tools for nutrition and harassment prevention.

So far, we’ve supported curling athletes and plan to expand to other sports as well. Let’s use technology to support the future of sports and explore exciting new possibilities together!

Entertainment of the Future – Redefining Entertainment Through Tech & Media

Entertainment of the Future is a collaborative research project with Mplusplus Co., Ltd., a cutting-edge company pioneering the use of LED technology and projection mapping in stage design and live performances.

Together, we’ve created products and projects like interactive stage support systems, online dance and piano lessons, and LED costumes. VR, projection mapping, and drones are changing the way we perform and experience entertainment.

These technologies let performers and audiences connect in new ways. To ensure a successful event or workshop, engaging media — from promo videos to flyers — plays a key role. High-quality graphic and sound design also makes a huge difference.

If you’re passionate about entertainment and want to help shape its future, now’s the time to take the first step. Your ideas and energy could be what drives the next generation of experiences!