The only thing necessary for the triumph of noisy drinking straws is for good men to do nothing. Thankfully, Kotaro Takahashi is taking action, and Kyoto University has his back.
For the second year running, Kyoto University is holding its Student Projects for the Enhancement of Creativity (SPEC) contest. In SPEC, students take up science-oriented challenges with the financial and academic support of the university.
The six applicants (out of 26) selected for this year’s SPEC include Tatsunori Ikejiri and his goal of establishing a global medical study tour for doctors and Tomohiro Nobeyama’s plan to perform surgeries at a cellular level using “nano-explosives.”
But Kotaru Takahashi’s “Silence Straw” initiative has truly sent gravitational waves throughout the science and engineering communities.
The 18-year-old freshman postulates that by reducing the amount of left-over liquid from a drink, one can significantly cut the noise created when sucking it up. Through weekly consultations with the greatest minds Kyoto University has to offer, Takahashi has already developed prototype straws with inner surfaces that have greatly reduced those annoying noises.
More work still needs to be done to address complications such as “hard sucking.” Luckily, to do this Takahashi will get the support of Kyoto University and their generous donors. If enough money is raised through the university by 15 March, he will receive a maximum grant of 500,000 yen (US$4,400) to fund further research.
With the funding, Takahashi hopes to get more sophisticated sound detection equipment and cameras capable of precisely analyzing the inner-surfaces of his straw prototypes in action.
He is so close, but without the proper support noiseless straws will remain a dream to humanity. So, if you have the means please donate to Kyoto University’s SPEC contest and together we can rid the world of this…
Source: Kyoto University – SPEC, Yahoo! News Japan, My Game News Flash (Japanese)
Top Image: Wikipedia/jad99
Inset Images: SPEC
Videos: YouTube/Kyoto University, YouTube/MeeAndiChoi
The top 10 universities in Japan determined by 2021 World University Rankings
Even Japanese people are frightened by the concealed anger in Kyoto compliment foreigner received
Japanese educator embezzled $69,200 over four years to fund mobile game microtransactions
Most female doctors in poll can understand Tokyo medical school reducing female applicant scores
Life saved in Tottori, Japan by same skin transplant treatment used for Kyoto Animation arsonist
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Harajuku Station’s beautiful old wooden building is set to return, with a new complex around it
Ghibli Park now selling “Grilled Frogs” from food cart in Valley of Witches
Japanese city loses residents’ personal data, which was on paper being transported on a windy day
Pokémon Sleep camping suite and guestrooms coming to Tokyo Hyatt along with giant Snorlax burgers
Haku is…Chihiro’s dead brother? Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory
Akihabara pop-up shop sells goods made by Japanese prison inmates
Anime girl English teacher Ellen-sensei becomes VTuber/VVTUber and NFT
Japan’s massive matcha parfait weighs 6 kilos, contains hidden surprises for anyone who eats it
Over 20 percent of Burger Kings in Japan suddenly vanishing this month
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Japanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotes
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
French Fries Bread in Tokyo’s Shibuya becomes a hit on social media
Studio Ghibli releases new action figures featuring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind characters
New private rooms on Tokaido Shinkansen change the way we travel from Tokyo to Kyoto
Red light district sushi restaurant in Tokyo shows us just how wrong we were about it
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
Tokyo Tsukiji fish market site to be redeveloped with 50,000-seat stadium, hotel, shopping center
Beautiful Ghibli sealing wax kits let you create accessories and elegant letter decorations【Pics】
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutions
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Names of 10 Kyoto Animation arson victims released, family and friends offer words of remembrance
Kyoto wants to add extra charges for tourists to use city buses
8-year-old discovers untimely deaths of 15 percent of Kyoto’s cicada population
Tokyo Medical University accused of dropping women’s entrance exam scores 10-20 percent each year
Anime pro’s awesome video shows how to beat stay-at-home boredom: Imagine you’re fighting a ninja
Japanese youths anger police by sitting at kotatsu table at busy Kyoto intersection【Video】
Sticking cheeseburgers through soft drink straws now a thing on Japanese Instagram 【Pics】
One Piece original-story stage show, Sanji and Straw Hat restaurants open at Universal Studios
Kyoto Animation announces it will build two memorials to victims of anime studio arson attack
You do NOT want to play Mario Party against this 63-year-old lightning-fast Japanese gamer【Vids】
“Don’t play for more than an hour a day”: Japanese video game master gives great advice
Kyoto University students let loose at cosplay graduation ceremony【Photos】
Kyoto Animation arsonist sent more than one novel to company as part of annual writing contest
The 2,900 km/h train: China could soon have maglev faster than commercial jet
Kyoto Animation closing donation account for arson attack victims soon
Leave a Reply