Ryuta Kawashima facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ryuta Kawashima
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| Born | May 23, 1959 |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Alma mater | Tohoku University |
| Known for | Portraying Dr. Kawashima in the Brain Age series of video games |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Neuroscience |
| Signature | |
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Dr. Ryuta Kawashima (born May 23, 1959) is a Japanese scientist. He studies the brain, so he is called a neuroscientist. Many people know him from the popular Brain Age video games. These games help train your brain. They are available on Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch.
About Dr. Kawashima
Ryuta Kawashima was born in Chiba, Japan, on May 23, 1959. In the 1970s, he went to Tohoku University. He studied medicine there and became a doctor. Later, he moved to Sweden to do research. He worked at the Karolinska Institute.
After his time in Sweden, he returned to Tohoku. He is now a professor at Tohoku University. Dr. Kawashima is well-known in Japan. He was also part of Japan's National Council. This council worked on topics like language and culture.
His Work and Research
Dr. Kawashima's main research focuses on the brain. He studies how different parts of the brain work. He links brain areas to feelings, language, memory, and thinking. He is an expert in brain imaging. This means he uses special tools to see inside the brain.
Another big part of his work is helping people. He uses his brain knowledge to help children learn. He also helps older people keep their memory sharp. His research helps patients recover their learning skills.
He helped create the Brain Training video games. These games are known as Brain Age in some countries. He even appears as a virtual host in the games! Dr. Kawashima decided not to take a lot of money from Nintendo. He believed he should only get money for his direct work. He used most of the money to fund his important brain research.
Books and Games
In 2001, Dr. Kawashima did a study at Tohoku University. He looked at how video games affect the brain. He found that certain parts of the brain were not very active during gaming.
In 2003, Dr. Kawashima wrote a book called Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain. This book became very popular in Japan. It sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. This book led to the creation of the Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! game. It was released for the Nintendo DS in 2005.
A second game, Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!, came out in 2005. Both games were very successful. They sold millions of copies around the world. They are among the best-selling Nintendo DS games. Dr. Kawashima used the money from these games to build two new research labs.
More games followed for the Nintendo DSi. These games included puzzles from the earlier Brain Age titles. They also had new brain-training challenges. In 2007, his book Train Your Brain was published in English. A sequel, Train Your Brain More, came out in 2008.
Other companies also released games featuring Dr. Kawashima. In 2009, Namco Bandai released Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima for iPhones. German developers also released Train your Brain with Dr. Kawashima for computers.
In 2011, Dr. Kawashima released Body and Brain Connection. This game was for the Microsoft Kinect on Xbox 360. A third Brain Age game, Brain Age: Concentration Training, came out in 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS.
Dr. Kawashima even appeared in the Super Smash Bros. video game series. He was an "Assist Trophy" in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (2014) and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018). He is the only character in the game based on a real person.
In 2016, a special Super Mario Maker course was released. It was called Dr. Kawashima's Athletic Training. Players could also unlock a Dr. Kawashima costume. The newest game, Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch, came out in 2019 and 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Ryuta Kawashima para niños
- Game brain
