| Representative |
Kazuhiro Shinoda
Representative Director of nuimie, Inc. Completed the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, University of Tokyo, in 2026, earning a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Information Studies. He began programming in high school and was admitted to the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Engineering through a recommendation program. From his undergraduate studies through his doctoral program, he has focused on research in human-computer interaction and ubiquitous computing, centered on interaction design using embroidery. He founded nuimie, Inc. upon completing his doctoral program. To date, he has received awards such as the Mitou Super Creator Award and has been selected for positions including Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellow (DC2) and NEDO NEP. |
| Motivation, Goals, and Ideal World |
The origin of my entrepreneurial journey dates back to my first experience using sewing machine embroidery while developing a fabric-based text-input device for the IPA’s “Uncharted IT Talent Discovery and Development Program” in fiscal year 2020. I experimented with embroidery as a method for creating complex conductive patterns on fabric, but at the time, my stitch design was inadequate, and I failed so many times that I ended up tearing holes in the fabric. Afterward, I continued my research on interfaces and sensors using embroidery in graduate school. As I designed embroidery data myself time and again, I came to realize the difficulty of properly determining numerous parameters, such as the number of colors, thread density, stitching direction, and stitching order. At the same time, my research confirmed that simply changing the stitching method can alter the appearance, texture, and even the electrical properties of the fabric. This led me to view embroidery not merely as decoration, but as a manufacturing technique whose potential can be greatly expanded through digital technology. Currently, embroidery design relies heavily on the experience of skilled artisans, and there is a high barrier for beginners to turn their own photos or illustrations into embroidery. At nuimie, we aim to support this highly specialized process with AI and computational design, enabling anyone to create the embroidery they envision in a short amount of time. Our goal is not to replace the work of experts, but to create an environment where tedious tasks are reduced, allowing people to focus on self-expression and creativity. We want to evolve embroidery into the ideal method for creating one-of-a-kind pieces and build a world where anyone can freely bring to life, through digital manufacturing, items that hold personal meaning—whether they’re for pets, family, favorite idols, or special anniversaries. We also aim to expand this Japanese-developed embroidery design technology globally. |
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