Yoshiro Nakamatsu
Encyclopedia
, also known as , is an eccentric Japan
ese inventor who has become something of a minor celebrity for his amusing inventions. He regularly appears on Japanese talk shows which, in conjunction with his appearance, usually craft a humorous segment based on one or more of his inventions.
He is a prolific inventor, and he even claims to hold the world record for number of inventions with over 3,200 patents. http://dr.nakamats.com/nakamatsuprofile.html Dr. Nakamatsu's profile on his web site] While this claim has been mentioned in several media articles, several other sources do not list Nakamatsu among the world's most prolific inventors., and some sources have directly opposed his claim. In addition, he was also mentioned in several satirical publications, such as "What a Stroke of . . . Um, Ingenuity, Anyhow" and "81-Year-Old Dr. NakaMats May Have Invented Nearly Everything You Hold Dear" , and was a main character in documentary comedy "The Invention of Dr Nakamats".
It should be noted that patents (these or any other) do not mean that the devices actually work. Patent offices grant patents without checking that the patented device works. While a patent is usually invalid if the patented device or process does not work, this is typically only determined if the patent is challenged (which is not normally done unless the patent holder sues an alleged patent infringer).
in 1979, but that the details are confidential. An IBM spokesman, Mac Jeffery, said that the company does license some of his patents, but not for the floppy disk, which they invented on their own. Another source has mentioned that IBM reached nonexclusive patent agreements with Nakamatsu in the late 1970s to avoid conflicts.
, Late Night with David Letterman
, even Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern
. He also appeared on the BBC show Adam and Joe Go Tokyo
and the BBC radio show Jon Ronson
On...
In 2005, Nakamatsu was awarded the Ig Nobel prize
(a parody of the Nobel prize
) for Nutrition, for photographing every meal he has consumed during a period of 34 years (and counting).
In 2009, Danish visual artist Kaspar Astrup Schröder made a humorous documentary about Nakamatsu titled The Invention of Dr. NakaMats (Opfindelsen af Dr. Nakamats).
and 2011 gubernatorial elections in Tokyo, and has also run for the Upper House election, but to date has failed to get any political seat. He is known for frequently entering and losing elections in Tokyo. Now he has a special seat on the Happiness Realization Party
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese inventor who has become something of a minor celebrity for his amusing inventions. He regularly appears on Japanese talk shows which, in conjunction with his appearance, usually craft a humorous segment based on one or more of his inventions.
He is a prolific inventor, and he even claims to hold the world record for number of inventions with over 3,200 patents. http://dr.nakamats.com/nakamatsuprofile.html Dr. Nakamatsu's profile on his web site] While this claim has been mentioned in several media articles, several other sources do not list Nakamatsu among the world's most prolific inventors., and some sources have directly opposed his claim. In addition, he was also mentioned in several satirical publications, such as "What a Stroke of . . . Um, Ingenuity, Anyhow" and "81-Year-Old Dr. NakaMats May Have Invented Nearly Everything You Hold Dear" , and was a main character in documentary comedy "The Invention of Dr Nakamats".
Nakamatsu creativity process
In his interviews, Nakamatsu described his "creativity process", which includes listening to music and concludes with diving underwater, where he says he comes up with his best ideas and records them while underwater. Nakamatsu claims to benefit from lack of oxygen to the brain, making inventions "0.5 seconds before death". He also built a million dollar toilet room made completely out of gold that he claims helps make him think better. Nakamatsu also has an elevator in his house that he claims helps him think better. He strictly denies that it is an elevator, but rather a "vertical moving room". Nakamatsu's goal is to live at least 144 years.Inventions
Nakamatsu's patented inventions include:- "PyonPyon" jumping shoes with leaf springs on their soles.
- "Cerebrex" armchair, a chair that supposedly improves mental function such as calculation and thinking by cooling the head and heating the feet.
- A toilet seat lifter.
- A condom with an embedded magnet, supposedly "improving sensitivity" as "electricity is generated in the blood vessels in the female organs by Fleming's left-hand rule".
- Protective envelopes for floppy disks, and head-cleaning floppy disk.
- A CD for supposedly "enhancing brightness or sexual function".
- A cigarette like device for supposedly "activating the brain".
- A pillow preventing falling asleep while driving (an air compressor strapped to the cars headrest, forcibly feeding air to the driver).
- A peephole in a sheet of material, described as a "oneway visible shielding object".
- Spectacles in the shape of eyes, so that the user appears to wear no spectacles.
- A "Wig for self defense" — a strip and a weight are attached to a wig. The wearer swings the wig to hit an attacker.
It should be noted that patents (these or any other) do not mean that the devices actually work. Patent offices grant patents without checking that the patented device works. While a patent is usually invalid if the patented device or process does not work, this is typically only determined if the patent is challenged (which is not normally done unless the patent holder sues an alleged patent infringer).
Claimed inventions
Nakamatsu gains much of his fame from his claim to have invented the floppy disk in 1952. He claims to have licensed his floppy disk patents to IBM CorporationIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
in 1979, but that the details are confidential. An IBM spokesman, Mac Jeffery, said that the company does license some of his patents, but not for the floppy disk, which they invented on their own. Another source has mentioned that IBM reached nonexclusive patent agreements with Nakamatsu in the late 1970s to avoid conflicts.
Media coverage
Nakamatsu has appeared on several American TV shows, including Lifestyles of the Rich and FamousLifestyles of the Rich and Famous
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous is a television series that aired in syndication from 1984 to 1995. The show featured the extravagant lifestyles of wealthy entertainers, athletes and business moguls....
, Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
, even Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern
Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern
Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern is a documentary-styled travel and cuisine television show hosted by Andrew Zimmern on the Travel Channel. The first season debuted on Monday, February 26, 2007 at 9pm ET/PT....
. He also appeared on the BBC show Adam and Joe Go Tokyo
Adam and Joe Go Tokyo
Adam and Joe Go Tokyo was a series of eight episodes created for BBC Three . It starred Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish of The Adam and Joe Show and aired from 30 May 2003 to 25 July 2003...
and the BBC radio show Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson is a Welsh journalist, documentary filmmaker, radio presenter and nonfiction author, whose works include The Men Who Stare At Goats. His journalism and columns have appeared in British publications including The Guardian newspaper, City Life and Time Out magazine...
On...
In 2005, Nakamatsu was awarded the Ig Nobel prize
Ig Nobel Prize
The Ig Nobel Prizes are an American parody of the Nobel Prizes and are given each year in early October for ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research. The stated aim of the prizes is to "first make people laugh, and then make them think"...
(a parody of the Nobel prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
) for Nutrition, for photographing every meal he has consumed during a period of 34 years (and counting).
In 2009, Danish visual artist Kaspar Astrup Schröder made a humorous documentary about Nakamatsu titled The Invention of Dr. NakaMats (Opfindelsen af Dr. Nakamats).
Political aspirations
Nakamatsu has been a candidate in the 2007Tokyo gubernatorial election, 2007
Tokyo held a gubernatorial election on April 8, 2007 as part of the 16th unified local elections. There were fourteen candidates , among them the incumbent governor Shintaro Ishihara. All candidates ran as independents but some were supported by various parties....
and 2011 gubernatorial elections in Tokyo, and has also run for the Upper House election, but to date has failed to get any political seat. He is known for frequently entering and losing elections in Tokyo. Now he has a special seat on the Happiness Realization Party
Happiness Realization Party
, abbreviated as 幸福, is a Japanese political party founded by Ryuho Okawa on 23 May 2009 "in order to offer the Japanese people a third option" for the upcoming elections in August 2009. The HRP is the political wing of the Happy Science religious movement....
.