Special Lecture and Music Performance by RADWIMPS Drummer Satoshi Yamaguchi
Schedule
Thu Feb 12 2026 at 07:00 pm to 09:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
Harvard Commons, Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center | Cambridge, MA
About this Event
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Please have your confirmation/ticket ready to show at the door and plan to be seated by 6:45 PM, after which entry will open to non-registrants.
About Satoshi Yamaguchi
Satoshi Yamaguchi is a drummer and backing vocalist of RADWIMPS, an award-winning and internationally recognized Japanese rock band that has contributed soundtracks to the anime films Your Name (2016), Weathering with You (2019), and Suzume (2022).
Yamaguchi joined RADWIMPS in 2003, while he was a college student. Following the band’s rise to success, including a major record deal, top-charting discography, and several national tours, in 2009, Yamaguchi began experiencing symptoms of musician’s dystonia, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions and loss of fine motor control, which affected his ability to accurately hit the bass drum with his right foot. Progression of symptoms led him to take an indefinite hiatus from performing in 2015.
During this time, he met Dr. Shinya Fujii, Director of the Neuromusiclab at Keio University, where he joined as a visiting researcher in 2021, as well as Dr. Takako Fujioka, Professor of Music at Stanford University, through a two-month research residency in 2023. Together with these specialists, Yamaguchi has undertaken a research project focusing on the impact of this condition on drummers and, in partnership with YAMAHA, co-developed VXD (Voice-controlled Drumset), a system that produces drum sounds by detecting and responding to vocal cues. With this adaptive technology, he has been able to resume his drumming, most recently in a 2025 solo tour, marking his return to the stage.
This event is part of Yamaguchi’s visit to North American universities to share his life story, diagnosis with dystonia, and the advances in science that have allowed him to continue his career in music.
Yamaguchi will speak on his life as a musician, introduce the VXD system, and perform a selection of songs.
About the VXD System
The VXD system consists of a microphone and a sensor that detect the user’s voice, along with a vibration motor installed inside the bass drum. The motor is triggered by the vocalized syllable “don.” To ensure accurate detection of this vocal cue, two complementary methods are used: the microphone captures the sound, which is then analyzed for its frequency characteristics to determine whether the syllable is “don,” while the sensor attached to the throat detects vibrations from the vocal cords to confirm that the sound was produced by the user. When both conditions are met, the vibration motor is activated, producing sound from the bass drum.
Since 2018, YAMAHA has also been developing Real Sound Viewing, a system that recreates performances using digital data from previously recorded live performances. While this technology was originally designed to generate sound from acoustic instruments in the absence of live musicians, the team modified it for use alongside VXD with Yamaguchi performing in real time. Ultimately, both systems were carefully calibrated to work in tandem, enabling Yamaguchi to perform at a high level.
Event Page: https://rijs.fas.harvard.edu/events/past-can-be-changed-special-lecture-and-music-performance-radwimps-drummer-satoshi-yamaguchi
Where is it happening?
Harvard Commons, Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
