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Pinch Is a Chance!

Oita National College of Technology

(A) “Is second place not good enough?” A Japanese politician once said.
(B) All Japanese engineers who heard this must have strongly disagreed.
(C) It's because developing the world's first and best technology is their mission.
(A) Japan is often said to be good at applying, but not creating. Even today, we hear negative voices, saying, “Why are breakthroughs such as smartphones, Twitter and Facebook not from Japan?”
(B) Can this be true? Of course not! We found a hidden history that opened doors to the world's first Japanese technology.
(C) Today, we've picked three stories to share with you. They link the past to the present; and from the present into the future, in terms of the world's first Japanese technology.
(B) The first story goes back to the 1800s. Who flew in the sky by plane for the first time? Yes, the Wright Brothers! But, more than ten years before their flight, there was a Japanese engineer who revealed the principles of flying. Did you know that?
(A) Who was it?
(B) He was NINOMIYA Chuhachi. Taking interest in flying since childhood, he observed how insects and birds flew, and figured out a way of flying by himself. In 1893, although he was merely a 27-year-old soldier, he developed a manned aircraft, TAMAMUSHIGATA plane. His plane design surprised even current aircraft designers.
(C) Then, why did the Wright Brothers fly before Chuhachi?
(B) Well, actually Chuhachi was facing adversity, or, “a pinch”, because it costs a huge amount of money to build a plane. He repeatedly proposed his idea to his boss, but his boss wouldn't listen. Unfortunately he had to spend many years gathering the funds himself. That's why, the Wright Brothers flew before him. Chuhachi, devoted to making the world's first aircraft, quit deeply depressed, never making a plane.
(A) What a sad ending! If only his boss believed in him!
(C) In that sense, Japan does not lack creativity, but understanding the value of creativity.
(B) Exactly. But, this story isn't over. In 1964, the Royal Aeronautical Society of the U.K. officially acknowledged him as the first person to discover the principles of flying. This was made possible because Chuhachi never gave in to the pinch, and his designs were preserved as official documents. Thus he was given a chance to regain his honor!
(A) Chuhachi's engineering spirit continues into modern Japan.
Look at this. When this plane showed up at the world's biggest air show, aircraft fans of the world were shocked to see engines on its wings. It had been considered impossible.
(C) A Japanese aircraft maker built it, right?
(A) No. that automobile company, Honda Motors, did it!
(B) What? Honda Motors? A plane!?
(A) That's right. Honda developed many world firsts, like ASIMO, and even a car navigation system, which is now key to our daily lives. This innovative technology was developed based on a gyroscope which determines aircraft location.
(B) Wow, car navigation was made from airplane technology!
(A) In 1976, Mr. TAGAMI Katsutoshi, a HONDA engineer, suggested developing a breakthrough driving system called Programmed-Driving. Just pick your destination, and your car will drive you there! However, his idea was strongly opposed by his peers, since drivers would lose the joy of physically driving.
(C) Oh, no!
(B) Rejection from the top again!?
(A) No. The pinch turned into a chance! Unlike Chuhachi's boss, Mr. TAGAMI's boss was fascinated by his idea. And thanks to his support, the world's first car navigation was developed.
(C) Why is Honda so good at making such creative products?
(A) It's because of founder, Mr. HONDA Soichiro. His company was originally a small garage factory. He used to encourage his employees saying, “Never imitate others! We'll make a product that nobody can and become the world's No.1!” Some employees laughed at his unrealistic words. But his dream came true, so did his childhood dream to fly!
(B) Chuhachi and Soichiro had the same dream!
(A) Exactly. This story also doesn't end here, like Chuhachi's. HONDA is now realizing such automated driving systems as Mr. TAGAMI imagined as his final goal. Furthermore, the current navigation system can talk with the driver!
(C) Wow! Just like (B)(C) Knight Rider! Come to think of it, did you know the car navigation voices are synthetic voices? It's been a dream for engineers to develop a human-like synthetic voice. Another Japanese company, YAMAHA, finally made a great development exceeding this dream with the world's first invention of the “Vocaloid” program.
(B) What's that?
(C) You've heard of HATSUNE Miku. Right?
(B) Yeah!
(C) When you input musical notes and words into your computer, Miku, a virtual singer will sing the music exactly like a human singer.
(A)(B) How cool!
(C) Right? But, there was another pinch. When Vocaloid was released, the market's reaction was awful and the development team risked breakup.
(A) What happened?
(C) Again the pinch turned into a chance. The Crypton Future Media Company, which was already using Vocaloid, suggested to YAMAHA, “Why not create something amazing with us if this is your last chance?” At last the unthinkable tool, HATSUNE Miku, was invented.
(A) (B) What a miracle!
(C) Exactly. The birth of HATSUNE Miku created a worldwide movement by net-users, where they can release their own music to the world, using her voice! She has even had her own concerts in many countries.
(A) What? How can a virtual character do that?
(C) Look at this. Her 3D image is projected on stage.
(B) How complex!
(C) By the way, do you know her name's meaning? HATSUNE means a sound produced for the first time. Miku comes from a Japanese word「未来」meaning “future”. So, HATSUNE Miku represents “the first sound coming from the future”. Another world-first Japanese technology, leading towards a more brilliant future!
(B) We introduced three Japanese engineers aiming for the world's first products. There are many other Japan-made products such as the Walkman, Washlet, automatic ticket-gates – you name it. How can Japan be said it's lacking in creativity?
(A) All these great people turned their pinches into big chances through trial and error. Even recently, Prime Minister ABE made a remarkable comeback after his previous downfall. Tokyo even won its bid for hosting the 2020 Olympics through learning from previous failure. We think people can only get a new chance after undergoing hardships in their lives.
(C) I hear Japanese people really don't know how great their own country is. The Japanese engineers under a long-lasting recession should regain their confidence and passion for MONOZUKURI – manufacturing technology! We, future engineers, will challenge the world, believing that Japan's technology will receive the following phrase from the world again:
(A) “JAPAN as(A)(B)(C) NO.1!”