It’s said you have created more than 3,500 inventions. Did you ever imagine you’d invent so many things?
No, I just keep getting ideas. Thomas Edison died at the age of 84 and his total number is 1,093 inventions. That number is fixed, but I’m still living, so this 3,500 number is still increasing.
When did it all begin for you?
I made my first invention at the age of five. It was a way to help a model plane self-adjust its flight path in mid-air. I loved my mother so my next invention was for her at the age of 14. It is what is now known as the kerosene pump and was designed to help my mother get the last drops of soy sauce out of a large bottle on cold mornings. It’s now used all over the world to get gas out of tanks in the same way. I wrote the patent for this and presented it to the Japanese patent office without any patent attorney present.
You’ll always be remembered as the inventor of the floppy disk, won’t you?
I invented it in 1952 when I was still at the University of Tokyo. The first model was 8 inches and it was this size because my notebook at university was 8 inches, and I used to transport it in my notebook. IBM developed the ‘Diskette’ and licensed material from me to make the floppy disk we know now. People didn’t understand what it was meant to do at first, but some 20 years later, IBM produced it and people realised how important it was. It revolutionised the computer industry. This showed me inventions could take a while to take off.
You’ve developed some, shall we say, less revolutionary inventions as well?
I have developed a musical putter that when you hit it and get a certain note, you know you will get the golf ball in the hole. I’ve also developed the Guard Wig, a self-defence wig to help protect you from potential attackers. You throw it at them to disorientate them and then reel the wig back in with an attached piece of string. Of course, I’m planning to send one to Donald Trump.
How do you go about inventing something? What’s your creative process?
First I sit in my calm room, a room plated with gold to help remove all the noise from my mind and block out TV signals and mobile phone signals. Once my mind is focused, I go to my dynamic room and play music, as music is key for the creative process. It’s in this room that all my ideas come to life. Midnight to 4am is the golden time for creation – I use this room from 12pm to 4am and sleep from 4am to 8am. That way, I can use all the other hours for creation. I have one meal per day, to save time that I can use to make inventions. I’ve been doing this for 46 years.
What is your focus now?
Well, I was diagnosed with cancer two and a half years ago and a famous medical doctor said I would die at the end of 2015. At first, I didn’t accept this and I consulted many, many famous doctors, but they all agreed my cancer was very rare and difficult to treat. There’s no cure, so I thank heaven that I received this very difficult cancer, because it gives me the opportunity to invent new therapies.
How are you treating your own cancer?
I started my research two and a half years ago, and I have developed a regime composed of ten therapies, including a terahertz radiation generator I call the Gan Gan Robot. I also drink a special tea and eat specific foods, as nutrition is key. Now, I’m still living and I think maybe my therapy is a little bit effective, but I must watch carefully from now on, I must track my health.
Which invention are you most proud of?
My answer to that is ‘Do you have children?’ I ask that because to me, my inventions are like children and you cannot ever say which one is your favourite, because you love them all equally. The process of creation is really enjoyable and inventions can really change the world. 99.9 per cent of people will always take the easy way, but my policy is to always take the hard way and to do it with a smile.
It appears as though you can’t stop inventing. Can you?
No, I’ve already got another invention coming.
Can you tell us what it is?
No…it’s a secret.
Andrew Stewart is the producer of CNN’s science and technology show ‘Make, Create, Innovate’ www.CNN.com/tech
