ABSTRACT

Dr. Nagamachi received his Ph.D. in mathematical psychology from Hiroshima University in 1963. He then studied medicine and engineering. From 1967 to 1968 he was a guest scientist at the Transportation Research Institute of the University of Michigan. Upon his return, he became the youngest ergonomic researcher appointed to Japan’s Automotive Research Committee, whose mission was to make the Japanese automotive industry a world player. Dr. Nagamachi has consulted with the Japanese automotive industry on manufacturing, quality control, vehicle safety, management robotics, and Kaizen. In the 1970s, he began his research on Kansei engineering, which translates consumer’s psychological feelings about a product into perceptual design elements. This technique resulted in the creation of numerous phenomenally successful products, including the MX-5 for Mazda, the Liquid Crystal Viewcam for Sharp, and the Good Up Bra for Wacoal.