In this special feature titled "Body / Clothing & Functionality," we are joined by Ken Endo, a researcher of robotics and prosthetic limbs, and CEO of Xiborg Inc. Today's guest is the award-winning writer, Tow Ubukata.
United by their progressive outlooks on the human body, both Ubukata and Endo present their speculative proposals in their respective mediums, literature and product development. This discussion spans a wide range of topics, highlighting the shifting perspectives on disabilities, the involvement of technology, and necessary strategies to effectuate a change in values.
PROFILE
Tow Ubukata
Author
Born in 1977 in Gifu Prefecture. Debuted with the KADOKAWA Sneaker Awards winning novel "黒い季節" in 1996. His novel "Mardock Scramble" won him the Japan SF Award in 2003. In 2010, he received the Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Rookie Award, the Bookstore Award, the Funebashi Seiichi Literary Award, and the North-East Literary Award for "天地明察," followed by the Futaro Yamada Award in 2012 for "光圀伝". He's also popularly known for "戦の国," "麒麟児," and so on.
PROFILE
Ken Endo
CEO of Xiborg Inc.
After completing master's course at Keio University, he moved to the U.S. to work at MIT Media Lab's Biomechatronics Group where he engaged in the analysis of human bodily functions and development of prosthetic legs. Earned his doctorate in 2012. Concurrently, he served as a lecturer at MIT D-lab, responsible for lecturing on prosthetics designed for developing countries. Currently, he is a researcher at Sony Computer Science Laboratories, where he continues his research on enhancing bodily functions using robotics. He was named one of the world’s top 35 innovators under the age of 35 by MIT’s Technology Review (TR35) in 2012, and was selected as a Young Global Leader at the Davos Conference in 2014.
Current Perspectives towards Disabilities
From "Pitiable" to "Cool" & "Unfair"
EndoI first met Ubukata at a related event of "Ghost in the Shell: ARISE" held at Big Sight. Intrigued to know more about his views, I invited him to my office. Given his wide receptiveness towards discussions on technology, he has always been an inspirational figure for me, encouraging me to broaden my horizons in the realm of technology.
UbukataWhile I create my stories by envisioning various scenarios, firsthand accounts can be quite influencing. After hearing your views drawn from direct interactions with people, I've translated them into my works. Specifically, when I heard you say, "People with leg disabilities can't walk, but with a prosthetic leg, they might be able to run," it left a deep impression on me. I realized this was an acute question poking at human values. That perspective stays with me to this day, and I look forward to delving further into understanding the current values and thoughts held by individuals depending on prosthetics.
EndoThe Paralympics were held recently, and interestingly, reports focusing on 'efforts put in by disabled individuals' did not abound as much as one might typically expect. Instead, there has been a shift towards enjoying the games as a sports event, treating it independently from the usual narrative around disabilities. Previously, high-emotion stories of disabled individuals overcoming adversity were more common, much like charity TV programs, but the recent Paralympics has been quite different. Mind you, I don't intend to denounce the previous narratives, but it's apparent that a different trend is emerging.
Behind this transformation, there is no doubt that technology plays a significant role and supports it, reflecting the discussions often found in SF works. When asked if it would be alright for someone to have their leg amputated to run faster with a prosthetic leg in the competition, I personally don't see anything wrong with it. However when I consider the ethical implications, I realize that my personal sentiment might be offbeat.
UbukataThere was a case in basketball, wasn't there? Where one had to amputate their leg to qualify...
EndoYes, indeed. There was someone who lost their eligibility because they didn't want to go through with the amputation.
