Speaker
Mr. Masaki Takeuchi
Colloquium, Inc. Representative Director<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Completed the Ph.D. program in Electrical Engineering at the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, and earned a Ph.D. in Engineering. While enrolled in the master\u2019s program in the same department, he served as the leader of the development team for \u201cLaryphonix,\u201d a hands-free, electrically powered artificial larynx, as part of a student project. He founded Colloquium, Inc. in April 2025 and currently holds his current position. His goal is to create a world where people who have lost their voices can speak without difficulty in their daily lives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Interviewer
Yuko Ueno<\/p>\n\n\n\n
General Manager, Group Development Division, Ribanes Co., Ltd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Masaki Takeuchi
Colloquium, Inc. Representative Director
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Ph.D. (Science). While in school, he explored the origins of life through his study abroad experience in the United States. He joined Livanes Co., Ltd. in 2013. In the Human Resources Development Division, he developed training programs in the U.S. for young Japanese researchers. After serving as the division\u2019s general manager for two years, he became editor-in-chief of the magazine \u201cStartup Support,\u201d where he engaged in dialogue with numerous venture company executives. After gaining experience supporting Japanese deep-tech startups in expanding into Southeast Asia and helping Southeast Asian startups enter the Japanese market, he was appointed General Manager of the Group Development Division in October 2021. To maximize the potential of the Ribance Group, he aims to establish a knowledge platform that integrates Southeast Asia and Japan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMasaki Takeuchi is working on the development of \u201cReariphonics,\u201d a device for people who have lost their voices. He started his business driven more by curiosity and a desire to help people in need than by income or stability. While conventional speech-assist devices typically involve placing a unit against the neck to produce sound through vibration, the electric larynx Mr. Takeuchi is developing is worn around the neck with a strap. He explains that his research into how to support the \u201cvoices\u201d of people who have difficulty speaking aims to realize a world where those who have lost their voices can regain them and communicate freely. Through a dialogue between Mr. Takeuchi and Yuko Ueno of Lifeness Inc., the fundamental question of \u201cwhat it means to be human\u201d and the importance of human relationships came to the fore.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Interacting with People with Disabilities Ueno:<\/strong> I hear that the \"RealiPhonics\" electronic artificial larynx being developed by Mr. Takeuchi allows users to speak simply by wearing it around their neck and moving their lips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong>Yes, it generates vibrations based on a pre-recorded sample of the person\u2019s voice, and those vibrations are transmitted to the throat via a vibrator located at the base of the neck. From there, the person produces sound by changing the shape of their mouth and tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong>It looks stylish, too. Could you tell us about the development process?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong>It all started when I was in high school and a member of the basketball team. I visited a facility that teaches basketball to people with intellectual disabilities. That was my first time interacting with people with disabilities, and I was particularly struck by the sight of them dancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong>What was it that made such an impression on you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong>You can\u2019t tell just by looking at someone that they are deaf. But because they couldn\u2019t hear the music, they couldn\u2019t dance very well. I loved music, so I\u2019d taken it for granted that I could hear sounds\u2014but that wasn\u2019t the case for everyone. It was a shock to realize that there are people who can\u2019t do the everyday things I take for granted. That\u2019s when I started thinking it would be wonderful if people who had lost their hearing could listen to music and enjoy it. After entering college, I took a seminar-style course on sound, where I also reflected on the relationship between people with disabilities and sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong>What was the class like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong>The speaker was a professor in the Faculty of Letters who studies language. There is a rare, incurable disease called ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) that causes paralysis. The workshop focused on a technique in which an occupational therapist recorded a person\u2019s voice before their symptoms worsened and they lost the ability to speak, and then reproduced that voice on a computer. While participating in the workshop, I realized for the first time just how agonizing it is for people with ALS to be unable to communicate with others. It was then that I came to understand that it\u2019s not just about hearing sounds\u2014making sounds is just as important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong>It\u2019s true that when it comes to communication, it\u2019s not just about hearing\u2014the voice you use to convey your message is important, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong>That's right. After that, through an introduction from a professor in the Department of Literature, I was able to participate in research with the Language Development Team at RIKEN for one year. The research focused on how babies learn language by analyzing the words mothers speak to them. This is where I became involved in speech research as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong>So, what made you decide to build this device?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong>I was conducting research in computer science as an undergraduate, but I began to feel that I wanted to focus more on speech research. So, for graduate school, I transferred to a different university and joined a lab focused on social welfare rather than speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong>Changing both universities and fields of study is a challenge. It seems my interest in vocal techniques had been growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong> While conducting my research, I came across a YouTube video of someone who had undergone a laryngectomy practicing with an external artificial larynx. It involved placing a small handheld device against the throat or under the chin to transmit vibrations into the mouth, thereby producing sound. However, this method of speech made the voice sound robotic. In an era where technology exists to create natural-sounding voices\u2014like Hatsune Miku\u2019s\u2014I found it jarring that the result sounded robotic. So, I wondered if I could propose a solution that would allow that person to speak in a voice that truly sounded like their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno: <\/strong>How did you determine the direction of development?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong>First, wanting to connect with people who had lost their voices due to laryngectomy, I contacted several social welfare organizations. They invited me to visit the Tokyo Welfare Center for Persons with Disabilities. When I went there, I found they were working on how to recreate a \u201cvoice that reflects the person\u2019s individuality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong>So, what they were really looking for was a voice that was \u201ctruly unique to that person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong> Yes, when I spoke with those people, I was touched by their kindness and the way they treated me with genuine care. When I presented a prototype, they were eager to try it out. They also told me about the challenges they face in their daily lives. Among these, I learned that some people feel self-conscious about having their artificial larynx visible on their neck every time they speak, which makes them reluctant to talk to others. I\u2019ve come to believe that the true significance of this development effort lies in helping these kind-hearted people I\u2019ve met to speak and live their daily lives without any difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong> So there were other factors besides voice quality that made people hesitate to speak or engage in conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Regained Voice Fosters Connections with Others<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong> Even though you\u2019ve met the people directly affected, why are you so determined to go ahead with the development?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi: <\/strong>While I do want to be of service to others, I also want to take on challenges that are true to myself and do things that only I am doing. I plan to pursue my own desires and leave a legacy for future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong> Since I\u2019m also conducting research because I want to understand the origin of life, I understand that it\u2019s driven by personal desire and curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi: <\/strong>To be honest, I\u2019ve been avoiding thinking about what\u2019s best for myself. I\u2019m not very athletic, and I lack confidence. I\u2019m not good at thinking about my future. I\u2019m not good at making plans for the future, and I have a strong desire to just focus on whatever is right in front of me right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno: <\/strong>So you started a business even though you\u2019re not good at thinking about the future. It seems like you\u2019ve chosen a thorny path\u2014one where you have to come up with your own questions and tackle challenges with no clear answers. Why are you taking on such a difficult challenge? Takeuchi: <\/strong>When I was in college, right around the time everyone was job hunting, I was shocked to see a news report about a recent graduate who had joined a major corporation committing suicide. I realized that just because you join a major corporation doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll be able to do what you want, and that living that kind of life isn\u2019t necessarily a good thing. I also realized that there\u2019s no guarantee that company will remain stable forever. If that\u2019s the case, it\u2019s much better to do what I want to do. I thought that as I got older\u201410 or 20 years down the road\u2014I\u2019d probably look back and realize that was the better choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno: <\/strong>While working for a large company would have provided a steady paycheck, I chose this path because I wanted to do what I\u2019m passionate about and develop things that would benefit others and society\u2014rather than simply valuing stability or money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi: <\/strong>Yes, it\u2019s not so much that I want to become rich as it is that I want to help people. There are plenty of rich people out there, but take Steve Jobs, for example\u2014he\u2019s remembered precisely because he did things that no one else did. Of course, I\u2019d be happy if I could make money. But I just thought that by doing something no one else has done, I could make a name for myself as an individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pursuit of \u201chumanity\u201d is, Ueno:<\/strong>With previous technologies, while it was possible to produce speech using throat vibrations, the result sounded robotic, and the device attached to the neck was said to be quite conspicuous. Mr. Takeuchi, how do you incorporate \u201cthat person\u2019s individuality\u201d beyond just the voice?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi: Actually, even if it\u2019s not an exact reproduction of that person\u2019s voice, there are people who say, for example, that Ken Takakura\u2019s voice is great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong> So it's not just about reproducing the original voice exactly as it is, is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong> It\u2019s important to be able to speak in a way that doesn\u2019t make the other person feel that something is off. Even if it\u2019s not the person\u2019s own voice, I believe it\u2019s crucial that the voice they hear conveys that person\u2019s \u201ctrue character\u201d 100%. We\u2019ve also received feedback from users stating, \u201cWhen a conversation isn\u2019t flowing well, it can be hurtful when the other person pretends to understand just to be considerate of me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno: <\/strong>It\u2019s true\u2014it\u2019s sad when people are so self-conscious that they can\u2019t communicate naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi: Yes. In communication, the speaker\u2019s unique style of expression and how they typically behave in public are also important elements. If listening and speaking are the minimum elements necessary for conversation, I want to help students build upon their personal \u201cdesires\u201d\u2014such as wanting to sing with a more beautiful voice. Expression that stems from those desires is what connects to a person\u2019s \u201chumanity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno: <\/strong>There\u2019s also an expression that says you don\u2019t go out of your way to put your thoughts into words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi: Not saying anything unnecessary is also part of his personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong> The words we choose and how we want to be perceived\u2014these are all part of who we are. Rariphonics embodies the meaning and value of a person\u2019s way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong>The way you speak can change the sense of distance between the speaker and those around them. We hear this desire\u2014not only from the users themselves but also from their families\u2014that they want the user to speak \u201cin a way that\u2019s true to who they are.\u201d That\u2019s why family members have been accompanying us during our pilot tests. As development has progressed, we\u2019ve reached a point where people now say, \u201cI want to use this to make my grandchild happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong> It enables not only the person speaking but also those around them to communicate more actively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interactions with others Ueno:<\/strong> The voice encourages human interaction. Realiphonics isn't just a device for reproducing the voice; it's something that fosters human connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong> Yes, without others, communication cannot take place. Even wealthy people can die alone, despite receiving care. Whether they\u2019re elderly or have disabilities, people who are active in their communities are full of vitality. They work hard at something every day. That\u2019s what makes them feel their life has meaning. Even people who hardly speak at home might strike up conversations with all sorts of people during community activities\u2014say, twice a week. That\u2019s when their true selves shine through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong> That's right. Going forward, the relationships between people themselves will become more valuable than the value of money, which has been emphasized under capitalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong> People eventually grow old and retire. With the advent of smartphones and tablets, we\u2019ve entered an era where people can look things up and get by on their own, and some are choosing to live alone without talking to anyone. Of course, they may be enjoying their solitary lives, but I think it\u2019s more fun to live freely while interacting with others. I imagine there are people who look back on the past and feel nostalgic for the days when they could talk to others. If that\u2019s the case, it\u2019s such a waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong> People can't live alone\u2014I agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong>The value lies in having a community, communicating with others, and living while helping one another. I want to create things that are useful to people so that everyone can be active in such a community and always have something to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong> In biology, too, living things are thought to have an \u201cinside\u201d and an \u201coutside,\u201d creating a boundary; without an awareness of both, that individual is considered not to exist. The same is true of human relationships: without the other person\u2014not just oneself\u2014one\u2019s sense of purpose and \u201csense of self\u201d cannot emerge. This made me reflect on how differences arise through our interactions with others. Viewed in this light, a wide range of possibilities for the future opens up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeuchi:<\/strong> Rarephonics aims to be as unobtrusive as a pair of glasses. Glasses have already become an integral part of everyday life. People with poor eyesight put on a pair of glasses they bought at a store down the street. People who have lost their voices put on Rarephonics. That way, even if they\u2019ve lost their voices, they don\u2019t stand out. Moreover, some people wear glasses simply to enjoy expressing their personal style. We want this device to help create that kind of future as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ueno:<\/strong> Through technology, we can restore not only our voices but also the relationships between people. Being true to oneself cannot be achieved alone; \u201cone\u2019s true self\u201d is born through interactions with others. I felt that Mr. Takeuchi\u2019s challenge prompts each of us, as we stand at this turning point in 2025, to ask ourselves, \u201cWhat does it mean to be true to oneself?\u201d Thank you very much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Edited by Yoshinobu Osaka)<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u672c\u8a18\u4e8b\u306f\u30012025\u5e749\u6708\u767a\u884c\u306e\u4eba\u6750\u5fdc\u63f4\u518a\u5b50 Vol.29\u300c2025\u5e74\u306e\u5206\u5c90\u70b9\u300d\u306b\u63b2\u8f09\u3055\u308c\u305f\u30a4\u30f3\u30bf\u30d3\u30e5\u30fc\u8a18\u4e8b\u3092\u3082\u3068\u306b\u3001\u30a6\u30a7\u30d6\u63b2\u8f09\u7528\u3068\u3057\u3066\u518d\u7de8\u96c6\u3057\u305f\u3082\u306e\u3067\u3059\u3002 \u8a71\u3057\u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":9108,"featured_media":8846,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[44,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-44","category-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
Issues I've Identified<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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It's something people around me are asking for<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Toward an Era of Greater Value<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n