Meet Ryoichi Ando in “Takeshiba,” the base of the Superhuman Sports Project.
Ryoichi Ando is developing a new category of sport known as “Superhuman Sports.” Using advanced technologies, he creates experiences that allow people to overcome individual differences in physical ability, bringing joy and inspiration to all.
From anime to superhuman sports
I was born in Oizumigakuen in Nerima-ku, Tokyo. With Toei Animation located nearby, anime has always been a familiar and influential part of my life. I have wanted to use this cultural influence to enrich the world, and I joined the founding of the Superhuman Sports movement. As I got involved in creating the actual competitions, I realized that empowering people with new physical abilities could help reset the barriers caused by disabilities or differences in individual capability. Something clicked inside me the moment I realized that the culture I had loved all my life could be a key to creating a more inclusive, playful world.
The appeal of Superhuman Sports
Superhuman Sports combine physical and digital elements, using human augmentation technologies, AR/VR, and robotics. These new sports allow people to transcend age, gender, physical limitations, and geographic boundaries, enabling them to go beyond themselves and bridges dividing between one another. The true appeal lies not only in the novelty of the experience itself but also in the new kinds of relationships that form among players as they participate.
Combining physical and digital
There are countless ways to enjoy them like any other sport. But to start with, I think it’s fun to forget about what you can or can’t do for a moment, and simply try with the mindset that you can do it. Somehow, things might go well, and you might discover new physical sensations you’ve never experienced before.
Message to MICE organizers
【From Ryoichi Ando to MICE organizers】
Superhuman Sports represent a new concept rooted in the spirit of Japanese culture. Much like our country’s time-honored traditional crafts, they continue to innovate and integrate while preserving the core essence and embracing diverse values. They are also the product of collective creativity, cultivated over time through widespread public participation.
By elevating both technology and culture into a new form of sport, Superhuman Sports offer moments of joy and inspiration. Please come, experience, and enjoy them!
information
【Ryoichi Ando】
President and CEO of AXEREAL Inc.
Executive Director of Superhuman Sports Project, B Lab.
Superhuman Sports is a new form of sport that leverages technologies such as robotics and AI to go beyond human limitations, aiming to transcend differences in age, gender, and physical ability, allowing everyone to become a “superhuman” and enjoy playing together. He helped establish this organization during his student years, developing new competitions and earning his doctorate in the process. He continues to move between academia and real-world application, working to pioneer this field under the concept of “Playing all together.”