What can you do when a computer is placed inside your shoe and connected to the internet? — Yuya Kikukawa, who researched music interfaces at university, is the CEO and founder of no new folk studio Inc., and his smart footwear "Orphe" is finally complete. These performance-focused futuristic shoes, which control light and sound based on the user's movements, will be available for pre-order worldwide starting June 22nd (Wednesday) Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1F = Promotion.

I realized that shoes can be used as musical instruments.

The smart footwear "Orphe" is equipped with the latest 9-axis (3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis geomagnetic) sensors, over 100 full-color LEDs, and a wireless module. It is a "wearable device" that you can intuitively control with a smartphone app, controlling your movements and the interaction of light and sound.

Kikukawa explains, "I've been researching 'sound visualization,' where the perception of sound changes when sound and light are synchronized. One day, I noticed that tap dance and flamenco shoes are used as musical instruments. I got the idea from that and started developing the concept of 'electronic instrument versions of shoes.'"

The first prototype was exhibited at "Music Hack Day Barcelona," an exhibition held in Barcelona in 2014 while Kikukawa was studying abroad. "The first prototype was simply a shoe with LEDs, motion sensors, and an audio module attached, but it won three awards—the Spanish Ministry of Industry Award, the Sonar Award, and the XthSense Award—and became a hot topic. That convinced me that 'this could become a new musical instrument,' so I returned to Japan and started the company."


The challenges we faced in developing "Orphe"

Kikukawa's company, no new folk studio, is located in "DMM.make AKIBA," a popular shared office space with a factory attached, and apparently, the prototype was created using the facilities at DMM.make AKIBA.

Regarding the development of Orphe, Kikukawa said, "Even though it contains precision machinery, the biggest challenge was that shoes experience stronger impacts from contact with the ground compared to other wearable products worn on the arm or elsewhere. Major shoe manufacturers have also tried to create 'shoes with built-in machinery,' but we now understand why they haven't achieved a perfect solution."

As development progressed, they said, "We felt a desire to pursue new forms of expression beyond just sound and light," and "making it a platform would broaden the possibilities even further."


I want to be betrayed by the people who wear "Orphe".

"It might be the same in the world of fashion, but these kinds of new devices only evolve in their own unique way when they are betrayed by the users. For example, I play the guitar, but the guitar didn't just develop through the playing methods envisioned by the instrument makers. The guitar evolved only when players experimented with ways to amplify the sound, or rubbed the strings with a pick, and betrayed expectations through their own ingenuity. I believe that tools evolve and become more refined in this way, so I intend to leave room for that in Orpheus as well," says Kikukawa.

He continues, "Current wearables primarily focus on 'input' to understand one's own condition, such as healthcare, but Orphe is a wearable with a strong 'output' function, emphasizing features such as recognizing gestures with sensors, tracking steps and movement speed, measuring exercise information, and using light to signal something. The core service of Orphe is the ability to freely design the relationship between input and output."



When light connects with information and is refined, it can be enjoyed by adults as well.

He further expressed his hopes, saying, "I'm looking forward to seeing someone wear Orphe and use it for various activities like running, dancing, playing games, and board games, think about new input-output relationships, create an app, and see that moment come out into the world. I'd be happy if it became a part of fashion."

When you hear "light-up shoes," you might think of sneakers worn by children, but "there's an instinctive coolness to shoes that light up in conjunction with movement, and furthermore, I think it's a fundamental desire to feel good when the aura of a person in motion is made visible, so I've also been paying attention to light-up shoes for children."


I want to combine various technologies and master technology.

Regarding the future possibilities of Orpheus, Kikukawa says, "When you wear Orpheus, your foot movements attract attention, so dancers can become the stars, and even in clubs, one audience member will be noticed. I hope that people will post videos of themselves wearing Orpheus on video-sharing sites, and I'm sure that new stars suited to Orpheus will emerge." He adds, "We are also thinking about achieving other results by translating the movements of performers into light and sound, and we will continue to pursue the possibilities of smart footwear."

"I want people to be proud of wearing Orphe. I want to collaborate with people in the fashion world, try out new designs and materials, and deepen the value of the shoes."

no new folk studio smart shoes "Orphe" ¥44,712

Yuya Kikukawa

CEO of no new folk studio Co., Ltd. Part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of Technology. After majoring in art engineering at Tokyo Metropolitan University Graduate School, he established no new folk studio Co., Ltd. following the commercialization of "Orphe," an LED smart shoe system that he began developing as research in 2014. He proposes new products with the keyword "IoT for expression." His awards include the Asia Digital Art Award Excellence Award and the Music Hack Day Barcelona - Sonar Award, among others.

http://no-new-folk.com/

YI & SONS Pop-up Store □ June 22nd (Wed) - July 5th (Tue)
□ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1st Floor = Promotion
*Event information is available here.

*All prices include tax.

Photo: Ozawa Tatsuya

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Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 2nd Floor = International Creators
03-3352-1111 (main representative)